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United States men's national team midfielder Johnny Cardoso will undergo surgery on his right ankle and is expected to miss the upcoming FIFA World Cup, Atlético Madrid announced Monday (May 11). The 24-year-old suffered a high-grade sprain with joint damage during a training session last Thursday, forcing him out of action just one month before the U.S. opens its World Cup campaign in Inglewood, California.
According to a statement from Atlético Madrid, Cardoso sustained "a traumatic injury during training last Thursday that resulted in a high-grade sprain involving joint damage" and will require surgery to repair the damage. The club said, "We send you lots of encouragement and strength, Johnny, and wish you a speedy and full recovery from your injury."
Cardoso, who joined Atlético Madrid this season after spells with Betis in Spain and Internacional in Brazil, was in contention for a spot in the U.S. starting lineup. He has made 23 appearances for the USMNT since debuting in 2020, but has struggled with injuries throughout his international career. The U.S. Soccer Federation is still gathering more information about the extent of his injury, but the recovery timeline means he will not be available for the World Cup, which starts on June 12.
Teammates and coaches have expressed support, with U.S. midfielder Sebastian Berhalter saying, "He's such a nice guy, and to be honest, I hope he's there. I hope he can recover, and he's someone that deserves to play for the national team 100% and he's such a good player, and hopefully he can take it back."
Initially, there was hope Cardoso might recover in time for the tournament, but reports now indicate he will not return until Atlético's preseason camp at the end of July.
His absence is a major blow for the U.S. squad as they prepare to face Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey in Group D.