What's happened
Johnny Cardoso will undergo surgery on his right ankle after training injury, ruling him out of the US World Cup squad. His injury compounds midfield concerns as Tanner Tessmann and others face limited availability ahead of the tournament co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada. Mauricio Pochettino is set to name the 26-man roster on May 26.
What's behind the headline?
Live, focused analysis
- Cardoso’s injury is a clear blow to the USMNT midfield options at a critical juncture ahead of the World Cup.
- With Tessmann also sidelined for the rest of the season, there are questions about how coach Mauricio Pochettino will configure the midfield in a 4-2-3-1.
- Potential replacements or reshuffles include Cristian Roldan, Sebastian Berhalter, or a shift to defensive roles for Weston McKennie.
- The injury timeline and recovery plans will directly influence roster decisions announced in New York on May 26 and training camp starting May 27 in Fayetteville, GA.
How we got here
Cardoso has been navigating an injury-plagued first season at Atletico Madrid. With the USMNT also contending with injuries to several midfielders, the squad selection schedule is under pressure as they prepare for warm-up friendlies and the Group D schedule.
Our analysis
Al Jazeera, NY Post, AP News (multiple pieces)
Go deeper
- How will the midfield shape change if Tessmann isn’t fully fit?
- Which players are most likely to fill Cardoso’s role?
- What impact could this have on the USMNT’s warm-up schedule?
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The FIFA World Cup, often simply called the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, the sport's global governin
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Tanner Tessmann - American soccer player
Francis Tanner Tessmann is an American professional soccer player who plays for Serie A club Venezia and the United States national team.
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Mauricio Pochettino - Argentine football manager
Mauricio Roberto Pochettino Trossero is an Argentine professional football manager and former player, who was most recently the manager of Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.
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Johnny Cardoso - Soccer player
João "Johnny" Lucas de Souza Cardoso is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defensive midfielder for Internacional.