Midfielder Johnny Cardoso will miss the United States’ matches with Trinidad and Tobago that will determine a berth in next year’s Copa América and the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals.
Cardoso has an injured right ankle and did not travel to Austin, Texas, from Brazil, where he plays for Internacional. The 22-year-old from Denville, New Jersey, has made nine international appearances. He will not be replaced on the roster, the U.S. Soccer Federation said Monday.
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“I think Johnny’s been playing really well at his club with some really great performances and that’s why we called him in because we had expected him to make a contribution,” U.S. assistant B.J. Callaghan said on Monday. “Unfortunately with the injury, that’s not the case, but I think for us it’s an area that we have a lot of depth.
“We expect other guys to be able to get opportunities and step up and I think for the way we look at all of these situations where guys get injured is that one of the greatest strengths of our team is the depth and I think we’re able to sort of go to the next guy up and don’t have any concern with that.”
The U.S. already was missing wingers Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah, and captain Tyler Adams because of injuries.
The Americans host Trinidad on Thursday and play at the Soca Warriors on Nov. 20.
