
U.S. men’s national team midfielder Johnny Cardoso will not be available for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after club side Atlético Madrid announced on Monday that he will undergo surgery.
Last Thursday, the 24-year-old was diagnosed with a high-grade right ankle sprain, unable to complete the day’s training session. Atlético then conducted scans at the club’s training facility and performed physiotherapy sessions and rehabilitation work before determining that surgery was the correct course of action, leaving Cardoso unavailable for the Stars and Stripes this summer.