Real Salt Lake striker Diego Luna is dreaming of "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to represent the United States at a home World Cup this summer.

After missing the start of the MLS season through injury, Luna has scored four goals and provided one assist in nine games for Salt Lake.

The 22-year-old impressed for Mauricio Pochettino's USMNT side at the Gold Cup last summer, directly contributing to five goals (three goals, two assists) in six games as they finished as runners-up.

Only Panama's Ismael Diaz (six) recorded more direct goal involvements than Luna at the tournament, while his USMNT team-mate Malik Tillman also finished on six.

Luna's form has been important for Salt Lake, who are third in the Western Conference ahead of their trip to Minnesota United on Saturday.

The striker is eager to impress for RSL, with Pochettino naming his USMNT squad for the World Cup on May 26.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be in this situation and have the World Cup be on home soil," said Luna.

"It's been an up-and-down year for me with injuries and illnesses, but I think this year it's super exciting with the World Cup coming around.

"It's about doing what I can do in the time that I am being able to be on that field and hopefully, do enough to make that squad."

While RSL have won their last two games, Minnesota are winless in their previous three MLS outings (D1 L2).

They fell to a 2-1 defeat to the New England Revolution last time out, leaving them eighth in the West, four points behind RSL.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Minnesota United – Kelvin Yeboah

Kelvin Yeboah tallied his eighth goal of the season last weekend against New England.

His eight goals are tied for the most by a Loons player through the first 14 games of a season, matching Christian Ramirez in the club's inaugural MLS season in 2017.

Real Salt Lake – Zavier Gozo

Zavier Gozo's 10 goals for Real Salt Lake are the most by a teenager in club history.

Gozo joins New York Red Bulls' Julian Hall as the only two teenagers in MLS with double-digit goals over the last two seasons.

MATCH PREDICTION – MINNESOTA UNITED WIN

Minnesota are favourites for this fixture, and have been strong at home in recent games; they have conceded multiple goals just once in their first six home matches of the season and in just five of their last 20 home games.

Since 2024, the Loons have allowed a single goal or fewer in 28 of their home games, with only Los Angeles FC and Charlotte FC doing so more often (31).

Real Salt Lake, meanwhile, picked up their eighth win of the season last weekend. The Claret and Cobalt have their most wins through the first 13 games of a season since winning eight of their first 13 during the 2012 campaign.

Minnesota and RSL have played out a draw in nine of their 19 all-time regular-season meetings. Only two other MLS matchups over the last 10 seasons have featured more draws (FC Dallas v Houston Dynamo – 12, Chicago Fire vs New England – 11).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Minnesota United – 44.4%

Draw – 24.3%

Real Salt Lake – 31.3%