United States midfielder Johnny Cardoso has sprained his right ankle five weeks before the World Cup, his club Atlético Madrid said on Thursday.
Atlético said Cardoso was hurt in practice and sustained what the club called a “high-grade sprain in his right ankle” and will undergo rehab.
The club did not give a timetable for his return.
The injury is just the latest in series of ailments that have struck Cardoso during his first season with Atleti, having previously endured another ankle injury in September and a knee bruise in December.
But since the start of the calendar year, Cardoso had begun to receive more playing time, making a total of 23 appearances.
Cardoso was also making headway with the USMNT as well, starting a recent friendly against Belgium in late-March.
At the least, Cardoso looked poised to make the roster and possibly be a starter.
Now it seems unlikely that Cardoso will heal up in time to make the World Cup roster, which will be announced in New York on May 26.
The injury opens the door for several players who were on the U.S. roster bubble.
Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and Middlesbrough’s Aidan Morris could step in for Cardoso if manager Mauricio Pochettino opts for a like-for-like replacement.
If Pochettino opts to take only four central midfielders, and add another attacking player, Club América’s Alejandro Zendejas and Real Salt Lake’s Diego Luna could benefit.
LaLiga has four rounds left and Atlético are eyeing a top-four finish.
The U.S. opens its World Cup campaign on June 13 against Paraguay in Inglewood, California. It will then also play Australia and Turkey in Group D.
The 24-year-old Cardoso has 23 appearances for the U.S. since his debut in 2020.
Atlético were eliminated by Arsenal in the Champions League semifinals this week.
Jeff Carlisle and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
