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USMNT midfielder Johnny Cardoso needs ankle surgery, likely out for World Cup
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- USMNT midfielder Johnny Cardoso needs ankle surgery, likely out for World Cup
The U.S. national team received tough news Monday, May 11, with Atlético Madrid announcing midfielder Johnny Cardoso 's ankle injury requires surgery, likely putting him out of the World Cup.
"Johnny Cardoso will have to undergo surgery to operate on the injury suffered to his right ankle," the club statement read.
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The American suffered an injury in training last Thursday which triggered a high-grade sprain with joint impact.
While the La Liga club didn't unveil a timetable for the player's return, the news is a blow for hopes the 24-year-old would be fit for the World Cup.
Multiple reports, including from The Athletic , said that Cardoso will be out for this summer's tournament.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Diego Luna of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Andrea Vilchez/ISI Photos/USSF, Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Tim Ream of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Andrea Vilchez/ISI Photos/USSF, Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: United States National Team poses for portraits in Stars uniforms on November 10, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States.
(Mitchell Leff, Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: United States National Team poses for portraits in Stars uniforms on November 10, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States.
(Mitchell Leff, Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Folarin Balogun of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Andrea Vilchez/ISI Photos/USSF, Getty Images)
United States National Team Stars Uniform
(US Soccer)
US Soccer Stars kit
(US Soccer)
US Soccer Stripes kit
(US Soccer)
US Soccer Stars Kit
(Nike)
Diego Luna, Stripes kit
(Nike)
Tyler Adams, Stars kit
(Nike)
US Soccer Stripes kit
(Nike)
US Soccer Stripes kit
(Nike)
US Soccer Stars kit
(Getty Images)
US Soccer Stripes kit
(Getty Images)
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Diego Luna of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Andrea Vilchez/ISI Photos/USSF, Getty Images)
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Diego Luna of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Andrea Vilchez/ISI Photos/USSF, Getty Images)
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Tim Ream of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Andrea Vilchez/ISI Photos/USSF, Getty Images)
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: United States National Team poses for portraits in Stars uniforms on November 10, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States.
(Mitchell Leff, Getty Images)
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: United States National Team poses for portraits in Stars uniforms on November 10, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States.
(Mitchell Leff, Getty Images)
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Folarin Balogun of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Andrea Vilchez/ISI Photos/USSF, Getty Images)
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
United States National Team Stars Uniform
(US Soccer)
7
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stars kit
(US Soccer)
8
/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stripes kit
(US Soccer)
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stars Kit
(Nike)
10
/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
Diego Luna, Stripes kit
(Nike)
11
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
Tyler Adams, Stars kit
(Nike)
12
/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stripes kit
(Nike)
13
/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stripes kit
(Nike)
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stars kit
(Getty Images)
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stripes kit
(Getty Images)
Who could replace Johnny Cardoso on the USMNT roster?
U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino will be looking for other options, especially with Tanner Tessmann also sidelined by an injury in Europe .
There is optimism around Tessmann's World Cup availability, but the depth issues in central midfield could be good news for the World Cup hopes of players like Sebastian Berhalter of the Vancouver Whitecaps , Cristian Roldan of the Seattle Sounders , Middlesbrough's Aidan Morris and Jack McGlynn of the Houston Dynamo .
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The full roster will be announced May 26 at an event in New York City. The United States starts World Cup play June 12.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Diego Luna of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Andrea Vilchez/ISI Photos/USSF, Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Tim Ream of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Andrea Vilchez/ISI Photos/USSF, Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: United States National Team poses for portraits in Stars uniforms on November 10, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States.
(Mitchell Leff, Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: United States National Team poses for portraits in Stars uniforms on November 10, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States.
(Mitchell Leff, Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Folarin Balogun of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Andrea Vilchez/ISI Photos/USSF, Getty Images)
United States National Team Stars Uniform
(US Soccer)
US Soccer Stars kit
(US Soccer)
US Soccer Stripes kit
(US Soccer)
US Soccer Stars Kit
(Nike)
Diego Luna, Stripes kit
(Nike)
Tyler Adams, Stars kit
(Nike)
US Soccer Stripes kit
(Nike)
US Soccer Stripes kit
(Nike)
US Soccer Stars kit
(Getty Images)
US Soccer Stripes kit
(Getty Images)
1
/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Diego Luna of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Andrea Vilchez/ISI Photos/USSF, Getty Images)
1
/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Diego Luna of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Andrea Vilchez/ISI Photos/USSF, Getty Images)
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Tim Ream of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Andrea Vilchez/ISI Photos/USSF, Getty Images)
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: United States National Team poses for portraits in Stars uniforms on November 10, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States.
(Mitchell Leff, Getty Images)
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: United States National Team poses for portraits in Stars uniforms on November 10, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States.
(Mitchell Leff, Getty Images)
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Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Folarin Balogun of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Andrea Vilchez/ISI Photos/USSF, Getty Images)
6
/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
United States National Team Stars Uniform
(US Soccer)
7
/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stars kit
(US Soccer)
8
/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stripes kit
(US Soccer)
9
/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stars Kit
(Nike)
10
/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
Diego Luna, Stripes kit
(Nike)
11
/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
Tyler Adams, Stars kit
(Nike)
12
/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stripes kit
(Nike)
13
/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stripes kit
(Nike)
14
/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stars kit
(Getty Images)
15
/15
Nike unveils new USMNT and USWNT kits for 2026
US Soccer Stripes kit
(Getty Images)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Johnny Cardoso injury news: USMNT midfielder needs ankle surgery
