3 Reasons USMNT Hopeful Diego Luna Should Wait For Europe Until 2026 World Cup

In an otherwise increasingly uneasy discourse surrounding the United States Soccer

men’s national team, Diego Luna is a bit of a North Star.

The 20-year-old Real Salt Lake

talent continues to draw nearly universal acclaim for his performances in a USNMT shirt since manager Maurico Pochettino

first invited him into the fold
. On the club level, there are increasing signs he is capable of carrying the star player mantle for a roster that is in transition, including his brace in a 2-0 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy

last weekend.

There’s even some chatter he should explore a move to Europe sooner rather than later.

But that would probably be a mistake.

Looking at the current landscape, Luna’s best interests are served by staying in MLS at least through the summer of 2026 and, hopefully, his inclusion on the 2026 World Cup roster.

Here are three reasons why:

Pochettino’s Position

The Argentine has made it clear that playing regularly is most important

Diego Luna celebrates with the USMNT — Imagn Images

There was a time, particularly during the latter stages of previous manager Gregg Berhalter’s tenure, that it felt almost imperative for USMNT hopefuls to head abroad if they wanted national team consideration. But that’s clearly no longer the case.

Both with his words

and his squad selection
, Pochettino has made it clear that playing regular games and performing well in them is the most important component of qualifying for USMNT duty, and the caliber of the games you’re playing comes shortly thereafter. And Luna can be assured of being a central part of RSL’s plans while he’s at the club.

But the timing of a potential European move, either in the next primary or secondary European transfer windows, would make his margin for error extremely slender in terms of adjusting to a new culture and earning first-team minutes. We’ve seen plenty of American players eventually become regulars at European clubs after requiring several months or even a full year to earn the trust of their new manager and new teammates. That’s time Luna just doesn’t have given his 2026 aspirations.

Direct Competition for USMNT Spot

Staying in MLS gives Luna a chance to compare favorably to Lucho Acosta

Additionally, Luna’s biggest rival for inclusion on the USMNT squad may be another MLS player, Luciano Acosta, who is hoping to be naturalized as a U.S. Citizen in time for consideration in the 2026 squad. Now age 30, Acosta isn’t headed anywhere else soon, having recently finalized a move to FC Dallas

, the third MLS club of his career.

Luciano Acosta vs Diego Luna – 2025 MLS Comparison
Player	Appearances	Goals	Assists	Expected Goals	Expected Assists
Luciano Acosta	7	3	0	2.1	1.0
Diego Luna	6	3	0	1.5	0.2
Data via Opta

Luna and Acosta have the most similar player profiles, which can make them unique in the U.S. player pool. And every moment that Luna might not be making plays in MLS if he moves to Europe and fights to earn a role at a bigger club, you can probably bet Acosta will be.

Perhaps the equation is different if the 2025 MLS season ends and Acosta still hasn’t received U.S. Citizenship. But for now, both he and Luna’s comparative performance in the league could prove critical to both players’ hopes of earning a 2026 roster spot.

A Showcase Waiting in Summer 2026

The 2026 World Cup could be a tremendous shop window

Diego Luna plays for the USMNT against Costa Rica on Wedneday — Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

The final part of the equation is the shop window that a World Cup can provide a young player, something USMNT members haven’t really experienced since at least 2014.

In 2018, the USMNT missed out on the tournament entirely, and thus didn’t gain any exposure in front of a global audience and countless numbers of club decision makers.

Then in 2022, the timing of the tournament played in November and December made it more difficult for players to turn strong World Cup showings directly into meaningful club transactions, since the biggest moves typically come in the summer transfer window that had already been concluded.

If Luna, or indeed any of Pochettino’s MLS-based talent, can get meaningful minutes in the 2026 World Cup and show well in them, that’s nearly guaranteed to boost their transfer stock for the summer window that follows. And any player who seizes that opportunity may have far better offers to choose from than they might have in the summer of 2025.