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Atletico Madrid announced that Johnny Cardoso will have surgery on his right ankle after sustaining a severe sprain in training, ending his chances of joining the United States squad for the 2026 World Cup.Cardoso’s Surgery Seals His World Cup AbsenceThe La Liga club confirmed the procedure on Monday, noting the injury occurred during a training session last Thursday. The 24‑year‑old midfielder has already missed significant time this season, including only 45 minutes of action in a friendly against Belgium during the March international window.Numbers Highlight Cardoso’s Limited PlaytimeAge: 24Season appearances: limited by recurring injuriesInternational minutes this year: 45 (vs. Belgium)USMNT Faces Injury Crisis Ahead of 2026 World CupCoach Mauricio Pochettino must finalize a 26‑man roster while dealing with multiple absences. Captain Christian Pulisic missed recent AC Milan matches due to a muscular issue, and wingers Tim Weah (Olympique de Marseille) and midfielder Tanner Tessmann (Olympique Lyonnais) are also sidelined.The United States, co‑hosting the tournament with Mexico and Canada, will play warm‑up matches against Senegal (May 31) and Germany (June 6) before opening Group D against Paraguay on June 12.Potential Squad Adjustments and Tournament OutlookWith Cardoso unavailable, Pochettino may look to younger midfield options or reshuffle the existing roster. The injury wave could force the USMNT to rely more heavily on depth players, influencing tactical choices for both the warm‑up games and the World Cup campaign.

Barcelona will face Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium on Saturday, April 5, at 9pm (19:00 GMT), in a critical La Liga encounter. This match serves as a precursor to their Champions League quarterfinal series, with the two Spanish giants set to clash three times in 10 days.The Catalan club will be without winger Raphinha due to a hamstring injury, placing additional pressure on teenage star Lamine Yamal to deliver. The 18-year-old has been in impressive form, scoring six times in his last seven matches across all competitions.Yamal has drawn comparisons to Lionel Messi and has been a key player for Barca, helping the team win Euro 2024 and a domestic treble last season. His maturity and skill on the pitch have been notable, especially in big games.Barcelona currently leads La Liga and will look to maintain or extend their lead against Atletico, who have little to play for in the league but will aim to build momentum for their Champions League quarterfinal against Barca.The match is a rematch of their Copa del Rey semifinal encounter in February and March, where Atletico advanced to the final 4-3 on aggregate. Barcelona is seeking to reach the Champions League semifinals for the second consecutive season, while Atletico aims to return to the last four for the first time since 2017.In terms of team news, Atletico Madrid will be without Marcos Llorente and Johnny Cardoso due to suspensions, as well as Pablo Barrios and Rodrigo Mendoza due to injuries. Barcelona is likely to be without Frenkie de Jong but may see the return of Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde from injury.

US men's national team manager Mauricio Pochettino is suffering two months in advance as he navigates a midfield selection headache with 11 weeks to go until the World Cup. The player pool he inherited had a first-choice midfield trio – Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, and Yunus Musah – with few adequately tested alternatives.With several players emerging as contenders for the final roster, Pochettino cited the midfields of Barcelona and Real Madrid to illustrate the importance of his decision. He emphasized that every time a team works, it's because the midfield is good.Weston McKennie has forged one of the clearest paths on to the World Cup roster, with Pochettino praising his adaptability and focus. Tyler Adams was left off the squad for recent friendlies due to an issue with his quadriceps, but Pochettino has experience with readying alternatives.Other players, such as Cristian Roldan, Sebastian Berhalter, Aidan Morris, and Tanner Tessmann, have also made strong cases for inclusion with their club form. Johnny Cardoso has benefited from his recent performances with Atlético Madrid, and Pochettino sees him as a player with a great opportunity to make an impact.The US names their final World Cup roster on May 26, and the next two games could help determine how much suffering Pochettino will undergo in the interim as he makes his final call.