The U.S. men’s national team is down a midfielder for the World Cup.
Johnny Cardoso, the Atletico Madrid midfielder who had been likely to make the 26-man roster that will be named just over two weeks, will undergo surgery on his right ankle and miss this summer’s competition.
“Johnny Cardoso will undergo surgery to repair the injury to his right ankle,” Atletico Madrid said in a statement. “The American suffered a trauma during training last Thursday that resulted in a high-grade sprain with joint involvement. We send you lots of encouragement and strength, Johnny, and wish you a speedy and full recovery from your injury.”
Johnny Cardoso #15 of the USA passes the ball during a game against Belgium on March 28, 2026. ISI Photos via Getty Images Cardoso, who’s been capped 23 times for the national team, wasn’t considered a lock to make the final roster due to his struggles to perform for the national team, but his form with Atletico — where he’d carved out a regular place as a starter for a club that was in the Champions League semifinals just last week — would have made it hard for coach Mauricio Pochettino to overlook him.
With midfielder Tanner Tessmann — a likely starter for the United States presuming health — also set to miss the rest of his season for Olympique Lyon in France due to a muscle strain, there are now some real questions surrounding the state of the midfield. While it appears unlikely that Tessmann’s injury will affect his World Cup, it is nonetheless concerning.
Cardoso, who played just 45 minutes against Belgium before being subbed off at the last U.S. camp, wasn’t considered likely to start, but had he been able to translate his game to the national team, it would have been a boon to the Americans’ World Cup chances.
Atletico Madrid’s Johnny Cardoso (r.) and Arsenal’s Piero Hincapie (l.) compete for a ball during a UEFA Champions League game on May 5, 2026. NurPhoto via Getty Images Players like Cristian Roldan and Sebastian Berhalter appear to be closer to the right side of the roster bubble as a result of Cardoso’s absence. Tessmann’s status, though, could cause a greater trickle-down effect if he ends up missing time in camp.
In Pochettino’s 4-2-3-1 formation, Tessmann and Tyler Adams are likely the USMNT’s best partnership in defensive midfield, though Cardoso would have been an option there. One option if Tessmann isn’t fully fit would be to drop Weston McKennie, a versatile player who’s lined up in attack for the U.S., into a defensive midfield role.
Pochettino will name his roster on May 26 at an event in New York City, with the USMNT starting its training camp one day later in Fayetteville, Ga.
