Johnny Cardoso might have to wait a little longer to see his name featured in the USMNT lineup. Atlético Madrid announced yesterday that the midfielder is suffering from a low-grade thigh injury and will miss a week or two.
The midfielder had started four consecutive matches across all competitions for Atlético before he came off the bench in Tuesday's 1-1 draw against VfB Stuttgart. That match is the one in which he was injured, which tests confirmed later in the week.
How will this affect Cardoso's USMNT future?
Cardoso missed the World Cup this summer due to an ankle injury and was also left out of Mauricio Pochettino's October squad. While he's been in good form at Atlético, the timing of this injury puts his inclusion in the next USMNT squad in question.
A two-week recovery would put Cardoso back on the pitch just ahead of the international window opening on Nov. 9, so there is a chance he will be able to contribute right away. However, with the Nations League quarterfinals as the objective, it is plausible for Pochettino to bring his best, healthiest squad.
He showed in October that he is confident in the depth of the team and will leave injured stars out in favor of younger players who can give a full effort.
What will the midfield look like without Cardoso?
The USMNT fortunately has many options in the midfield, so even if Cardoso is healthy, he might struggle to feature in this packed room. Captain Tyler Adams and Malik Tillman can be considered lineup locks in their current forms, but Cardoso would be one of a number of candidates for that third and final starting spot. With him out of the equation, there are three players best suited for that role.
🚨🙏 Johnny Cardoso's recovery time is expected to be only around ONE week.
— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) October 22, 2026
The aim is for him to be available against Bayern, and if his recovery progresses well, he could also be considered for the match against Levante.@nachodonado pic.twitter.com/QHtsyNutLZ
One is Weston McKennie, the World Cup starter who has plenty of experience in combination with Adams and Tillman. McKennie missed the October window due to an injury of his own, so Pochettino could be keen to get him re-included in the midfield.
Sebastian Berhalter has also earned an opportunity to start. He had a breakout World Cup to secure him a move to the EFL Championship and has taken off since, netting two goals and one assist so far this season for Middlesbrough. With two goals and two assists during the October window himself, Pochettino could see him as a dependable option for two competitive matches.
No player has earned their way back into a starting spot more than Gio Reyna. He started all four matches for Pochettino in October, and his form has been maintained, having just netted his second Ligue 1 goal of the season against PSG. Reyna is finally showing the potential USMNT fans have been hoping for, and another nod of confidence from Pochettino could keep Reyna flying high.
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