Captain Tim Ream said Luna is “not fazed by anything.” It’s a quality that the veteran defender hasn’t seen in a while, especially in a player as young as Luna. It’s also why, when the USA needed to set the tone early in the semifinal and match the energy of the crowd at Energizer Park — which was mostly cheering for the opposition — Luna was calm and composed. He bagged a brace in less than 15 minutes to swing the momentum toward the U.S. and lead the Americans to their semifinal win and 13th Gold Cup Final.
“He just has something about him,” Ream said. “That chip on his shoulder that was like, ‘This is me — unapologetically me. Get me the ball. I’m gonna make things happen.’ And let’s drag the rest of us into the fight and get after it. It’s just so nice to see.”
Like many other senior team players, Luna developed playing for U.S. Youth National Teams. He made a particular impact at the U-20 level, winning the U-20 Concacaf Championship in 2022. At the time, he was playing with USL Championship's EL Paso Locomotive, after he signed with the Division II team when he was 17 years old. Later that year, he caught MLS attention and transferred to Real Salt Lake, where he's called home for the last three years. Last week, he was one of seven USMNT players in this camp named to the MLS All-Star roster and will have the chance to represent U.S. Soccer and Real Salt Lake at the MLS All-Star Game on July 23.
Now, he’s shining at the highest level in Concacaf. He’ll have another chance to showcase his skill and be part of his first championship roster as the USMNT faces Mexico in the final at NRG Stadium in Houston on July 6 (7 p.m. ET on FOX).
“It’s going to be about the energy and the grit that we have to really put in good performances,” Luna said of the final. “We have the capability to create chances and players that have the ability to do special things.”
But most of all, it’ll be about the words Pochettino echoed.
“I think it’s about the hunger and attitude going into this,” Luna said.
