Johnny Cardoso, the U.S. World Cup candidate who injured his right ankle at Atlético Madrid training last week, will undergo surgery, the Spanish La Liga club announced Monday.
No timetable was announced, but with the World Cup kicking off in a month, the 24-year-old defensive midfielder is all but certain of missing the tournament.
As previously announced by the club, Cardoso suffered a high-grade sprain. The joint was also impacted, Atleti said Monday.
U.S. officials have been in contact with the Champions League semifinalists, a U.S. Soccer Federation spokesman said, but did not have any additional comment.
Cardoso’s World Cup prospects dimmed late last week when he got hurt in the buildup to Atleti’s match against Celta Vigo on Saturday.
Johnny Cardoso, a candidate for the USMNT World Cup squad, will undergo surgery on his injured right ankle. (Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/USSF via Getty Images)
Even if healthy, he was not certain of making Mauricio Pochettino’s 26-man U.S. squad. More successful in club circles than with the national team, moving from Brazil’s Internacional to Spain’s Real Betis before landing at Atleti last summer, Cardoso has been in competition with several defensive midfielders for probably four roster slots this summer.
Tyler Adams and Tanner Tessmann are the favorites, while Cardoso, Aidan Morris and Cristian Roldan are in the mix. Other midfielders are capable of filling that role, as well.
Invited to U.S. camp in March after an eight-month absence, Cardoso started against Belgium before leaving at halftime with a leg issue. He missed the subsequent friendly against Portugal.
Previously, an ankle injury had ruled him out of consideration for call-ups in October and November.
Assuming he is not available for the World Cup, Cardoso joins several other candidates sidelined by injuries: forward Patrick Agyemang, midfielder James Sands, left wing John Tolkin and goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann, among others. Only Agyemang was high on the depth chart.
Over the weekend, Tessmann, attacker Christian Pulisic and winger Tim Weah did not play for their respective clubs because of injuries. It’s unclear whether they will return this week.
Pochettino is scheduled to announce the World Cup team on May 26 in New York. Camp will open the next day at the new national training center near Atlanta, leading to friendlies against Senegal on May 31 in Charlotte and Germany on June 6 in Chicago.
The Group D opener is June 12 vs. Paraguay in the Los Angeles area.
