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Stu Holden Backs Mauricio Pochettino After Diego Luna Omission: ‘Zendejas Is a Better Player’
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- Stu Holden Backs Mauricio Pochettino After Diego Luna Omission: ‘Zendejas Is a Better Player’
The USMNT has started training to prepare for their final two friendly matches against Senegal and Germany before the World Cup kicks off.
For the USMNT , their first World Cup match this summer is in exactly two weeks, when they host Paraguay at the Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium).
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Earlier this week, the official USMNT World Cup roster was revealed, and one of the big shocks was the omission of Diego Luna and Alejandro Zendejas being named as part of the 26-man squad.
Alejandro Zendejas #10 of CF América and Diego Luna #8 of Real Salt Lake go for the ball during the game during the Leagues Cup Phase One match between CF America and Real Salt Lake at America First Field on July 30, 2025 in Sandy, Utah. (Photo by Bryan Byerly/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)Photo by Bryan Byerly/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino refused to talk about players missing from the USMNT World Cup roster, but many believe that Diego Luna 's replacement in the squad is Club America's Alejandro Zendejas.
Diego Luna was key for Pochettino last year, including the Gold Cup last summer. Zendejas was also part of Pochettino's past camps with the USMNT, where he last played in the September international break.
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Former USMNT player Stu Holden believes that Pochettino made the right decision to not select Diego Luna for the World Cup and praises the head coach for picking Zendejas.
Stu Holden on Pochettino's Decision: Luna-Zendejas
Stu Holden agrees with the majority of USMNT fans that Diego Luna was a star last summer during the Gold Cup, but he still believes that Alejandro Zendejas has a great case to have earned his spot in the final World Cup roster.
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On Alexi Lalas' State of the Union Podcast, Holden said, "Diego Luna was lights out for a period. He was full of confidence. He scored in the Gold Cup. He kind of made his name."
Holden was more surprised that Tanner Tessmann was left out than Diego Luna, since he believed Pochettino was left to decide between Luna and Zendejas.
Holden said, "It came between Zendejas and Luna. And when push comes to shove, I think the daily pressures and expectations and the type of games that Zendejas plays in, expected to be the best player for Club America, I think Zendejas is a better soccer player than Luna."
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on May 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the Soccer section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
