Due to a left groin injury, Yunus Musah will miss the final two World Cup warm-up games for the United States, depriving them of the opportunity to field their favorite midfield trio before the tournament in November.
Musah was replaced on the list on Friday by Johnny Cardoso of the Brazilian team Internacional for the games against Japan on September 23 in Düsseldorf, Germany, and Saudi Arabia four days later in Murcia, Spain.
The most established part of the American starting lineup is the first-choice midfield, which consists of Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, and Musah. Only seven times have the three players started together, mostly as a result of injuries and suspensions. These seven starts include two exhibition games in November 2020 and five of the 14 World Cup qualifiers.
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Cardoso, 20, is of Brazilian descent and is from Denville, New Jersey. Three times, all in friendlies, he has represented the United States: in November 2020 against Wales and Panama, and in December 2017 against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Miles Robinson, the Americans’ center defender, was already out of the competition because of a torn left Achilles. Four players, including goalkeeper Zack Steffen (knee), left back Antonee Robinson (ankle), midfielder Cristan Roldan (groin), and winger Tim Weah, will miss the warm-up games due to injury but hope to be back for the World Cup (ankle).
After being absent from the 2018 World Cup, the United States will play Wales in their opening encounter on November 21, England on Black Friday four days later, and Iran in their final group game on Nov. 29.
Five days prior to the FIFA deadline, on November 9, U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter intends to reveal his World Cup team.
The roster:
Goalkeepers: Ethan Horvath (Luton Town, England), Sean Johnson (New York City), Matt Turner (Arsenal, England)
Defenders: Reggie Cannon (Boavista, Portugal), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Glasgow Celtic, Scotland), Sergiño Dest (AC Milan, Italy), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace, England), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach, Germany), Sam Vines (Royal Antwerp, Belgium), DeAndre Yedlin (Miami), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville)
Midfielders: Kellyn Acosta (Los Angeles), Tyler Adams (Leeds, England), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo, Spain), Weston McKennie (Juventus, Italy), Yunus Musah (Valencia, Spain), Malik Tillman (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)
Forwards: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds, England), Paul Arriola (Dallas), Jesús Ferreira (Dallas), Jordan Morris (Seattle), Ricardo Pepi (Groningen, Netherlands), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea, England), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Josh Sargent (Norwich, England).
