Diego Luna is USMNT-bound via an all-MLS January camp with an eye on Olympic roster
The rising RSL midfield star was one of 15 players to earn a first senior call-up by U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter for an all-MLS January training camp in Orlando.
He hasn’t hit the moon yet, but Diego Luna’s career growth continued Friday morning.
The rising RSL midfield star was one of 15 players to earn a first callup by U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter for an all-MLS training camp in Orlando, part of a 25-player group called into camp Jan. 20 in Orlando for a friendly against Slovenia.
“I’m very excited for this opportunity and I’m looking forward to starting my year off with this camp,” said Luna, one of four players in the squad who featured at last year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup. “I expect to start 2024 by continuing the momentum I found at both RSL and with the U-23s last year, and taking things to a whole another level for both club and country this year.”
Luna, 20, rounds out the young group with an average age of 23 years, 323 days as of the first day of training Jan. 8. Miles Robinson is the top cap-winner on the roster, earning a call-up two days after transferring from Atlanta United to FC Cincinnati and two years removed from his first international goal scored during a 7-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago back on Jan. 31, 2021 in Orlando.
Of the group, 13 players — including Luna — are also age-eligible for the 2024 Olympic Games, Berhalter noted from San Antonio, where the United States will play Slovenia at Toyota Field after spending Jan. 8-16 in Orlando.
The group includes four players who have played internationally at the youth level for the United States in Cade Cowell (2023 U-20 WC), Diego Luna (2023 U-20 WC), Jack McGlynn (2023 U-20 WC), Shaq Moore (2015 U-20 WC), James Sands (2017 U-17 WC), Caleb Wiley (2023 U-20 WC), giving coaches that will include U-23 head coach Marko Mitrovic a chance to identify prospects for the Paris Summer Games, the first time the U.S. has qualified for the Games since 2008.
“I think this January camp does have a different look, and the reason why is because the Olympics are coming up. We are able to use this opportunity to purposefully bring Olympic age-eligible players,” Berhalter said. “This is purposefully designed to give younger players an opportunity to put their name forward for the Olympic pool. But in the mean time, there are a number of other players who have the opportunity to do something differently … It’s not about how old you are; it’s about how good you are.”
In that regard, Slovenia also makes the perfect friendly opponent for this group with a youth-heavy roster that will be trying to make an impact on a squad qualified for this summer’s Euros.
“This is a team going to the Euros that will be in the same exact situation as our roster,” Berhalter said. “They have to prove to the coach how they can fit into this system, and try to make the team for the summer Euros. It’s going to make for an extremely challenging contest.”
“This is an opportunity to identify and work with the next generation of players who have the potential to make an impact on our program,” Berhalter added. “We appreciate the support from MLS and all their clubs so that we can utilize this platform. Our priority is on getting as many players as possible experience in important competitions, and this camp and the match against Slovenia will be extremely valuable in the evaluation process.”
Luna grew up in Utah through his first full season with Real Salt Lake, both on and off the field. He started 14 of 23 matches for the Claret-and-Cobalt in 2023, scored five goals with three assists, and recently celebrated his first Christmas as a father after welcoming a baby boy to the world in the fall.
Now with seven goals in 45 total appearances with RSL, Luna will try to take his playmaking style to the U.S. senior team after starting 20 of 25 matches following his return youth World Cup in Argentina.
He’s listed as one of six forwards on the roster, though Luna has played primarily as a No. 10 in his time in the youth national setup. He also played extended minutes on the wing with RSL, providing versatility — and a possible separation from the group, depending on the camp.
“It’s nice to see players get rewarded for their strong performances,” Berhalter said. “Diego Luna came on first team at a crucial time of the season and performed at a really high level; he earned the callup.”
USMNT ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB/COUNTRY; CAPS/GOALS)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Drake Callender (Inter Miami; 0/0), Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati; 0/0), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (10): Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), DeJuan Jones (New England Revolution; 7/0), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC; 17/1), Ian Murphy (FC Cincinnati; 0/0), Jackson Ragen (Seattle Sounders; 0/0), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 27/3), James Sands (New York City FC; 13/0), Nkosi Tafari (FC Dallas; 0/0), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; 3/0), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United; 1/0)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Joshua Atencio (Seattle Sounders; 0/0), Aziel Jackson (St. Louis City; 0/0), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew; 4/0), Timmy Tillman (LAFC; 0/0), Sean Zawadzki (Columbus Crew; 0/0)
FORWARDS (6): Esmir Bajraktarevic (New England Revolution; 0/0), Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; 8/1), Bernard Kamungo (FC Dallas; 0/0), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; 0/0), Duncan McGuire (Orlando City; 0/0), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 0/0)