​Real Salt Lake v Sporting Kansas City: Mastroeni says USA need Luna at World Cup

Pablo Mastroeni believes Diego Luna deserves a place in the United States’ World Cup squad, as the Real Salt Lake midfielder attempts to force his way into Mauricio Pochettino’s plans via his performances in MLS.

Real Salt Lake are at home to Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, as they emerge from the international break with 10 points on the board after five matches.

Luna was forced to sit out the first two games of their campaign due to injury, though he has appeared from the bench in each of their last two outings – a 2-1 win over Austin FC and a 2-2 draw with San Diego FC.

He was not called up by Pochettino for the USA’s recent friendlies against Belgium and Portugal, though he did feature for his national team last November and has created five chances in just 64 minutes of MLS gametime this season.

Asked if the USA needed Luna in their ranks, Mastroeni told KSL Sports: “I think so. I think the thing with Diego that is unique is, he’s an attacking player that brings a spark.

“He brings a spark in the way he presses, but he also brings a spark in the attack. He’s a guy that always plays with a chip on his shoulder.

“He doesn’t care whether he’s playing against Guatemala, Belgium or Portugal, he goes at players, he takes them on, and his mentality is that it’s him against the world.

“I think in those situations, you want someone to start or come into a game who isn’t overcome by the presence of opponents.”

Real Salt Lake are unbeaten in their last four games (three wins, one draw) since opening 2026 with a 1-0 defeat to the Vancouver Whitecaps, and Mastroeni believes the competition provided by a group of talented youngster has been responsible for their upturn.

“It’s lit a fire under all the experienced guys, and that’s what really brings the group together,” he said. “The level of training in these last few months has been better than I’ve seen in the last five years that I’ve been here.

“But we can’t rest on our laurels. MLS is a crazy league. At the weekend we play SKC, and they lost their last home game but won away before that, against the LA Galaxy.”

While RSL sit sixth in the Western Conference, Sporting KC prop up the standings with four points from five games, having been thrashed 4-1 by the Colorado Rapids last time out.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Real Salt Lake – Diego Luna

Real Salt Lake had just three total goals from substitutes throughout the entirety of last season, but they already have two this term.

Luna could start on the bench again as he works his way back to full fitness, but regardless of how many minutes he gets, he will hope to have an impact.

Sporting Kansas City – Shapi Suleymanov

Suleymanov scored his first goal of the season for Kansas City in their loss to Colorado before the international break, his third goal since the start of last season.

The only current Sporting KC player with more goals for the team since the beginning of last season is Dejan Joveljic (21), and they need their supporting cast to step up.

MATCH PREDICTION – REAL SALT LAKE WIN

Sporting Kansas City won their last away match, against the LA Galaxy on March 14.

Back in action on Saturday pic.twitter.com/ADtNZ4tJdg

— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) April 1, 2026

That was their first road win in any competition since July 2025, and they have not won consecutive away games in the regular season since a three-match run in 2021.

They may find it tough on Saturday, given Real Salt Lake boast 13 home wins in their regular-season series with Sporting KC (D3 L5). The only teams RSL has more home wins over are the Colorado Rapids (19) and Seattle Sounders (14).

RSL have scored multiple goals in each of their last four games, the first time they have enjoyed such a run since May 2024. The last time RSL scored multiple goals in five straight games was in August and September 2017.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Real Salt Lake – 60.7%

Sporting Kansas City – 18.7%

Draw – 20.6%