Ankle surgery puts US midfielder out of World Cup

MADRID (AP):

United States midfielder Johnny Cardoso is set to miss the World Cup because of a right-ankle injury that requires surgery.

His Spanish club Atlético Madrid announced the surgery yesterday. The procedure usually requires months of recovery time and the World Cup begins in one month.

Atlético didn't give a timetable for his return. They also didn't immediately say when or where the surgery will take place.

The 24-year-old Cardoso sprained his ankle during training last week.

He has 23 appearances for the US since his debut in 2020.

The US open their World Cup campaign on June 13 against Paraguay in Inglewood, California. Mauricio Pochettino 's team also plays Australia and Turkey in Group D.

Caption: Atlético Madrid’s Johnny Cardoso (right) shoots the ball past Real Sociedad’s goalkeeper Unai Marrero during the Copa del Rey final in Seville, Spain on Saturday, April 18. - AP