Johnny Cardoso's hopes of representing the United States at the 2026 World Cup have taken a major hit after Atlético Madrid confirmed the midfielder suffered a high-grade ankle sprain during training on Thursday.

The 24-year-old, who had been carving out an increasingly important role in Diego Simeone's squad, will now face an extended period on the sidelines. A high-grade sprain typically requires several weeks—and sometimes months—of recovery, making his availability for the World Cup extremely unlikely.

While Cardoso was never a guaranteed selection for U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino's 26-man roster, his stock had been rising throughout the season. His performances in Atlético's impressive run to the Champions League semifinals had put him firmly in the conversation for a midfield spot. He started the first leg against Arsenal and came off the bench in the second leg, showing the kind of big-game experience that international managers covet.

Pochettino is scheduled to announce his final squad on May 26, with World Cup camp opening the following day at the new national training center outside Atlanta. The U.S. will play friendlies against Senegal on May 31 in Charlotte and Germany on June 6 in Chicago before opening Group D play against Paraguay on June 12 in Inglewood, California.

This injury setback is especially frustrating given Cardoso's recent trajectory. He was in U.S. camp in March, starting against Belgium before exiting at halftime with a muscular issue. He missed the subsequent Portugal friendly. Now, instead of building momentum toward the biggest stage of his career, he faces a race against time that appears nearly impossible to win.

Cardoso's club career has been on a steady upward climb—from Internacional in Brazil to Real Betis in Spain, and then to Atlético Madrid last summer. He has made 15 La Liga appearances this season, establishing himself as a reliable option in midfield. For now, Atlético has confirmed he will undergo physiotherapy and gym-based rehabilitation, with his return date dependent on how his recovery progresses.

For U.S. fans, it's a tough break for a player who seemed to be finding his best form at exactly the right time. The World Cup stage will have to wait.