Salt Lake’s Youth Movement Thrives in MLS
Salt Lake City has a prominent place in MLS history, particularly noted for its legendary championship-winning team from 2009. However, it remains one of the league’s smallest and lowest-spending markets. The franchise has never been in a position to sign high-profile players like Lionel Messi or Son Heung-min. Instead, Salt Lake has focused on developing its own talent and, in this regard, it has seen remarkable success.
Diego Luna represents Salt Lake’s most significant breakthrough to date. His journey has taught coach Pablo Mastroeni that consistency, communication, and simplicity are essential for helping more young players like Luna transition to the first team.
“I think the most important thing is to understand your audience,” Mastroeni said at the start of the 2026 MLS season. “Knowing that we’re going to have another young group, how do we take sophisticated, complicated tactics and make them as simple for a six-year-old to understand? And I think that’s our challenge, and that’s what we spent a lot of time on in the offseason, really honing as a staff.”
Mastroeni has worked to streamline tactics across all levels of Salt Lake’s teams. By ensuring that the senior and youth teams play similarly, young players face a smoother transition between the two levels.
“It becomes an RSL way,” Mastroeni said. “That helps younger players clearly understand expectations, and there shouldn’t be much change when they move up.”
This approach allows older prospects like Luna, who is only 22, to mentor younger teammates in real time. This mentorship not only benefits Salt Lake’s teenagers but also enhances Luna’s leadership experience.
“I think he’s pretty easy to play with,” teenage starter Zavier Gozo said of Luna. “He finds you wherever you are. Obviously, I’ve learned from him as a player. Playing with him has made me better. He makes the team better.”
“That’s the beauty of youth”
With pressure lifted and full support from their teammates, Salt Lake’s young players are thriving in MLS. This is evident when 19-year-old Gozo and 18-year-old Aiden Hezarkhani combine in attack. They exhibit speed, aggression, and a fearless attitude, taking risks that can lead to stunning goals.
“There’s not a shot that Gozo turns down,” Mastroeni chuckled, “but that’s the beauty of youth. They’re not worried about what their teammates are going to say. They take a shot from 25 yards out from a very difficult angle and it goes in.”
These captivating moments resonate with the American soccer fanbase. They witness Luna pressuring a goalkeeper to score and call for his inclusion in the U.S. Men’s National Team. Likewise, they marvel at Gozo’s long-range strikes and anticipate when he might join Luna on that elevated stage.