Diego Luna Opens Doors to Mexico Switch After USMNT World Cup Snub

Diego Luna's international future is suddenly a hot topic after he was shockingly left off the USMNT's World Cup squad. After recently joking on a vlog about whether it's "too late" to make the switch to Mexico, the young player has fueled speculation about a possible change in allegiance.

Pochettino's decision to leave out the Real Salt Lake midfielder from the United States' final tournament roster was a decision that surprised many, given his strong involvement in the lead-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and his reputation as one of MLS's most creative young players. The surprise omission of the 22-year-old has left a lot of fans scratching their heads.

His absence has now shifted attention toward his long-term international future, especially given his eligibility for both the United States and Mexico.

In a recent appearance on the Chicos Tóxicos vlog, Luna was directly asked about the possibility of representing Mexico.

When questioned whether a switch was still possible, he responded: "I think you get a one-time switch, we'll see."

The comment has fuelled speculation that he has not closed the door on changing his international allegiance, particularly given FIFA's eligibility rules allowing a one-time switch under specific conditions.

FIFA One-Time Switch Rule: Can Diego Luna Really Change National Teams ?

Under FIFA regulations, players are allowed to make a permanent, one-time switch of national teams only if they meet strict eligibility criteria set out in the Regulations Governing the Application of the FIFA Statutes.

A player requesting a one-time switch must generally have played no more than 3 competitive senior matches before turning 21, must have held the nationality of the second country at the time of their first senior cap, must not have appeared in the final stages of major tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup or continental championships, and must observe a required waiting period since their last international appearance.

In Luna's case, he does not meet these conditions.

The Real Salt Lake midfielder has already made 18 senior appearances for the United States Men's National Team, significantly exceeding the appearance limit allowed under FIFA's switch regulations. In addition, the majority of those appearances came after he had already turned 21, having been born in September 2003.

He was also heavily involved in competitive games during the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Because of these factors, Luna is considered permanently cap-tied to the United States, meaning he cannot switch allegiance to Mexico under current FIFA eligibility rules.

Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved

This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 2:26 PM.