Real Salt Lake winger Zavier Gozo has big dreams as he continues to enjoy what is proving to be an excellent season in Major League Soccer.
The 18-year-old Utah native has been a part of Salt Lake’s system since 2021, when he joined their academy, going on to make his MLS debut in October 2023 aged just 16.
So far this season, Gozo has played the full 90 minutes in each of Salt Lake’s nine games, scoring twice and providing three assists, leading former U.S. Men’s National Team forward Herculez Gomez to suggest Mauricio Pochettino should consider calling up the youngster for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
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“If there is a position that is lacking right now on the U.S. Men's National Team, I think it's fair to say it's the winger position, where maybe your only true winger, actual winger, is Timothy Weah,” he said on the ‘Duel Nats’ podcast.
“So, if I'm looking for a player that gives me a different profile, that is exciting, that is, as you say, explosive, can make a name for himself, and is a young man right now riding confidently that wave, I would say Zavier Gozo.
“He's the only player we could think of that fits the profile, playing here or abroad with that type of confidence. The kid has size, speed, and dribbling ability, one v one creation, space for himself and others that I think many in this player pool do not have.”
Now, speaking with the MLS Countdown Crew, Gozo has laid out how he would ideally like to see the next four months look like for him, saying, “I think obviously I would like to continue with RSL for the next two months and then in the summer window, obviously, I would like to go to Europe.
“That's been my dream for as long as I could remember. So I think that's the perfect time for me to take the next step, and if I have that opportunity, I 100 percent want to take it.”
That may not be quite what Salt Lake bosses want to hear, with their side currently sixth in the Western Conference, having lost their last two games as they look to enter the summer break in a solid position to continue fighting for the Playoffs.
As for a potential USMNT debut at the World Cup, there are no signs as of yet that this dream could become a reality for Gozo, who admitted he has yet to hear anything from Pochettino or any other members of his staff.
He explained, “Obviously, my agent has talked to me a little bit about the possibility, but I haven't talked to anybody on the staff or on the team about any potential World Cup things.”
The USMNT is set to reconvene for two pre-World Cup friendlies, first against Senegal on May 29 before taking on four-time champions Germany on June 6. Their World Cup opening game will take place on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, against Paraguay.