According to US media reports on Friday, Becky Sauerbrunn, a veteran defender and captain of the US national soccer team, will not be able to participate in the World Cup beginning July 20 due to a foot injury. Unidentified sources revealed to ESPN and The Athletic that Sauerbrunn, 38, has not fully recovered from an injury suffered in April.
With this injury, Sauerbrunn will miss the opportunity to compete in her fourth World Cup, despite having been part of the champion teams in the last two tournaments, in 2015 and 2019. Her experience and leadership as a key player on defense will be a significant casualty for the US team.
Becky Sauerbrunn has amassed 216 international caps for the US and has left her mark on the team’s achievements, including a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics and a bronze medal at Tokyo 2020.
US head coach Vlatko Andonovski will announce in the coming days the final list of players called up for the World Cup, which will take place in Australia and New Zealand and run from July 20 to August 20. Sauerbrunn’s absence will undoubtedly require Andonovski to find a suitable solution to reinforce the defense and maintain the team’s competitive level.