Key Midfielder Rules Out of World Cup
The United States men’s national team (USMNT) is facing a significant setback as key midfielder Johnny Cardoso has been ruled out of the upcoming World Cup due to an ankle injury. The 24-year-old, who plays for Spanish giants Atletico Madrid, sustained a high-grade sprain that also damaged the joint itself. Following tests, it was confirmed that he will require surgery, which means he will be unavailable for the tournament.
Cardoso, originally from New Jersey, was a certain inclusion in Mauricio Pochettino’s squad before the injury struck. His absence is a major blow for the team as they prepare for the World Cup, which begins on June 11 when Mexico hosts South Africa. The US team’s first game is scheduled for June 12 against Paraguay in Los Angeles.
This injury could open the door for Sebastian Berhalter, son of former USMNT head coach Greg Berhalter, to secure his place in the team. Berhalter had a standout performance for Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday, scoring his team’s equalizer against Western Conference leaders San Jose Earthquakes in a 1-1 draw.
Speaking after that game, Berhalter sent a message of support to Cardoso before the extent of his injury was known. “He’s such a nice guy, and to be honest, I hope he’s there,” Berhalter said. “I hope he can recover and he’s someone that deserves to play for the national team, 100 percent, and he’s such a good player and hopefully he can take it back.”
Cardoso, who has played 23 times for the USA national team, is not the only key player to face injury ahead of the World Cup. In April, striker Patrick Agyemang tore his Achilles while playing for English second-tier team Derby. He had been in impressive form, scoring 10 goals for the team after joining from Major League Soccer team Charlotte last year.
In another concerning development, US star Christian Pulisic is undergoing scans for a back issue that caused him to miss AC Milan’s game against Atalanta on Sunday. Pulisic hasn’t scored in a career-high 17 league matches since December 28. Milan are hopeful that Pulisic will return for their final game of the season against Cagliari in just under two weeks, and as of now, there are no major concerns about the issue limiting him at the World Cup.
Pochettino will announce his 26-man roster for the tournament on May 26. From there, the team will play two warm-up games: against Senegal on May 31 in Charlotte and Germany on June 6 in Chicago.
The US team will practice in California between their games at a base in Irvine, California—about 40 minutes outside of Los Angeles. After meeting Paraguay in LA, the team will fly up the west coast to Seattle for its second group game, where they take on Australia on June 19. The group fixtures will conclude with a tough final game against Turkey, back in Los Angeles, on June 25.
