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Jeff Carlisle
Multiple Authors
On Monday, Atlético Madrid announced that United States midfielder Johnny Cardoso will undergo surgery to fix damage to his right ankle.
The club stated that Cardoso experienced “a traumatic injury during training last Thursday that resulted in a high-grade sprain with joint damage.”
While Atlético Madrid’s announcement did not reference the upcoming World Cup, a spokesperson for U.S. Soccer indicated that they are seeking more information. However, it is likely that the surgery will prevent Cardoso from competing in the tournament, which starts in just a month.
Last week, ESPN reported on Cardoso’s ankle sprain, but there was no mention of the need for surgery at that time.
Cardoso was vying for a spot on the final 26-man roster for the U.S. men’s national team, and was a potential candidate for a starting position alongside Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams.
In a March interview with ESPN, Cardoso expressed his excitement about the World Cup, stating it was “an opportunity to show everybody, not just for me, but for my teammates as well, what we are capable of and that we have a great team aiming for significant goals.”
Over the weekend, his teammate Sebastian Berhalter voiced his hopes for Cardoso’s swift recovery. “He’s such a great person, and honestly, I hope he can recover soon,” Berhalter said. “He absolutely deserves to play for the national team and is an exceptional player. I really hope he can bounce back.”
Now, it appears that Cardoso’s chance to fulfill his World Cup aspirations will be postponed.
Since making his U.S. debut on November 12, 2020, in a 0-0 draw against Wales, Cardoso has participated in a total of 23 matches for the national team, but was not included in the squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The U.S. men’s national team will kick off its World Cup campaign on June 12 against Paraguay in Inglewood, California. They will also face Australia and Turkey in Group D.