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Diego Luna recently shared with GOAL the emotional toll of missing out on the World Cup, the difficult lessons that came with it, and how he’s turning disappointment into daily motivation to become a stronger player.

Since learning that he would not be part of Mauricio Pochettino’s 26-man World Cup squad, Luna has spent considerable time reflecting on himself. Through that process, he has uncovered truths that he now feels ready to acknowledge.

The first truth, he admits, is that it hurt deeply. The pain didn’t fade with time; even a month and a half after the announcement that the 21-year-old midfielder would not feature for the U.S. Men’s National Team at the World Cup, it continues to weigh on him. Despite the passing days, reminders have been constant — from advertisements to conversations — making the experience inescapable. It’s a familiar kind of pain, yet unlike anything he’s experienced before.

The second truth is that Luna accepts some responsibility for the setback. Rather than blaming external factors, he acknowledges that there were things he could have done differently — moments he could have handled better. In hindsight, he believes he may have allowed himself to get ahead of his journey, losing focus on the day-to-day work that builds towards long-term goals.

“The World Cup is the pinnacle,” Luna told GOAL as part of Audi’s ‘The Driven’ campaign. “As a footballer, once you play in a World Cup, you tick that off as an achievement, right? For me, that’s still my dream. I’ve got four years now to give everything I have to make it to 2030. But I’ve realised it’s about smaller goals — the daily steps. Maybe I was too focused on the big picture when what really matters are the consistent, smaller goals.”

That new understanding has led Luna to rethink not the ultimate destination, but how to reach it.

“I don’t think I truly believed in the process before,” he admitted. “It’s not just about saying ‘this is the goal’. It’s about doing the work every day — being the best in training tomorrow, being the fittest next week, giving 90 minutes for my team. Those daily efforts, that discipline, give me a better chance to be there in 2030. It’s about doing it, not just saying it.”

This introspection began weeks ago, marking the start of what has become a challenging but necessary process. What makes it difficult for Luna is that he hasn’t yet had the chance to put all these reflections into action. What was supposed to be the defining summer of his career instead became one of growth through adversity.

“You’re going to get upset,” he said. “You’re going to have emotions, but what happens next? I’m lucky to be 22, with the hope of playing in future World Cups. You learn that nothing is guaranteed. You have to prepare your mind and body to perform at your best.”

He added, “It’s in the past. It happened. Now the question is: what’s next? We move forward and keep working until the dream becomes reality.”

Before taking that step forward, the 22-year-old Real Salt Lake midfielder had to first take a step back and face some hard truths about why this summer unfolded the way it did.

The reasons behind it

Even after the U.S. team’s World Cup exit, Luna’s exclusion remained one of the most discussed topics. Leading up to the tournament, Luna had become one of American football’s brightest young stars. His image — with a broken nose, symbolising his gritty style — became iconic among fans who saw him as representing the heart of the USMNT. By the end of 2025, he had earned 17 caps, more than any other player in the squad’s pool, and had scored in a 5-1 win over Uruguay. He was also featured in several campaigns promoting the World Cup, which made his absence even more striking.

“The noise is crazy,” Luna reflected. “When things are good, they’re great. When they’re bad, they can be really bad. The key is balance — keeping a steady mindset. Things won’t always be good, and they won’t always be bad either.”

“2025 was all about Diego Luna,” he added. “The media, the pictures, the attention — as a 21-year-old, it was surreal. But it’s all a learning experience.”

Luna’s 2026 MLS season got off to a delayed start due to injury, which caused him to miss the March camp. Despite that, many still expected him to make the World Cup squad. When the official list leaked a few days before the announcement, his absence became the headline story.

When asked about the decision, USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino said he wouldn’t discuss omissions out of respect for those selected. He also chose not to contact players left out, preferring to let them process the news independently before any future discussions.

Luna has since expressed his willingness to have that conversation. While he can guess some of the reasons, he remains open to hearing more.

“The decision to leave me off — that’s up to the coaches or the federation,” he said. “Since my last friendly matches against Uruguay, I haven’t heard from the staff. It is what it is. They had their priorities, and now I have mine — getting back to work.”

“When the time comes to reach out and explain, I’ll be ready to listen. For now, it’s about focusing on what I can control.”

A familiar feeling

This isn’t Luna’s first major disappointment in football. It’s the biggest, yes, but not the first. He’s been left out of squads before and understands the process.

As a young player, the San Jose Earthquakes rejected him, doubting his potential. In 2024, despite winning the MLS Young Player of the Year award and earning an MLS All-Star spot, he was left out of the U.S. Olympic team. Luna has often been underestimated — a fact that has shaped his character.

“Honestly, that’s been my life,” he said. “There have always been doubters, people who don’t like me or the way I am. But I’ve kept betting on myself and working hard. Upsetting moments are part of this career. Of course, I was frustrated, but you can’t let those decisions define you.”

That mindset helped Luna ensure his World Cup exclusion didn’t destroy his summer. Instead, he looked for ways to turn the setback into something positive — and family became his anchor.

A summer of reconnection

El Paso holds a special place in Luna’s story. It’s where he turned professional after leaving the Earthquakes academy, joining El Paso Locomotive following a stint at Barcelona’s Arizona residency. When Real Salt Lake came calling a year later, his career took off — but he never had the chance to return to the city that had given him his start. During his World Cup break, he finally did.

“It was great reconnecting with the people who helped shape me as a teenager,” he said. “Going out, seeing familiar faces, having people recognise me — it was special to go back to where it all began.”

More meaningful still was the time spent with family — a rare luxury for a professional footballer constantly travelling for club and country. This summer, Luna finally had that time and made the most of it.

“I got to spend time with my son and loved ones, which was amazing,” he said. “Of course, missing a home World Cup was mentally tough, but you learn that life moves on. You can either dwell on it and let it ruin your time with family, or you can accept it, enjoy the present, and use that time for good.”

He added, “It was about making this time beneficial — early mornings with family, something rare. It was difficult, but it helped me realise what life looks like when football isn’t the main focus.”

Fatherhood and friendship both played a part in his recovery. His first light-hearted public comments on his omission came during an appearance with YouTubers Chicos Toxicos, who joked about his free summer and even teased him about switching national teams. Luna took it all in good humour.

“It’s fun,” he said. “You spend time with friends, laugh, and make new memories. You can’t change what happened, so why not laugh and move on while making sure it doesn’t happen again?”

Turning the page

Life doesn’t pause for long after missing a World Cup. Luna remains a central figure in MLS, recently appearing in the league’s ‘We’ll take it from here’ campaign. Despite everything, he continues to embody a story that resonates deeply with fans.

Now, Luna is back preparing for action with Real Salt Lake after what he calls a “mini-preseason.” With his reflections behind him, he’s ready to translate words into action on the pitch.

“I just want to play,” he said. “It’s been a long break, which was the hardest part. No training, just me pushing myself to stay ready. Now it’s about showing what I can do, performing consistently, and earning the chance to wear that crest again.”

“It’s all about mindset,” he added. “Yes, it hurt, but now the focus is on the next phase — improving every day and earning that next opportunity.”

When that moment arrives, Luna believes he’ll be a different player — more humble, mentally tougher, and stronger overall. His summer didn’t go as planned, but it still changed his life — and himself — profoundly.

“I don’t want to go too deep,” he concluded. “But sometimes I haven’t been good enough because of things outside football. Being a good professional means balancing life on and off the field. That’s something I’m learning.”

“When things aren’t right off the pitch, you’ve got to learn to switch it off when you’re playing. On the field, you need to feel free. Off the field is when you deal with problems. It can seem chaotic, but you take it one step at a time. When you’re on the pitch, your mind must be clear so you can enjoy what you do.”

That separation is still a work in progress for Luna. He can’t control life’s challenges, but he’s learning not to let them follow him into the game.

“That’s something I’m still mastering,” he said. “Life’s always going to be a rollercoaster. Mastering that balance is what leads to peak performance. Wherever that journey takes me, I’m excited for the future.”