James Rodriguez's time in Minnesota may be winding down sooner than expected. The Colombian superstar is set to join his national team for FIFA World Cup training camp on May 15, and that has always been the driving force behind his move to Minnesota United.

The Loons have two more home matches before that date—a Sunday showdown against Austin FC at 6 p.m. and a midweek clash with the Colorado Rapids next Wednesday. After that, the club faces a tough stretch at New England on May 16 and a home game against Real Salt Lake on May 23 before the MLS takes its own World Cup break.

"We're having conversations on a weekly basis," said Loons Chief Soccer Officer Khaled El-Ahmad, when asked about Rodriguez's future. The club is also discussing when other World Cup-bound players—Michael Boxall (New Zealand) and Carlos Harvey (Panama)—will depart for national team duty.

Minnesota United holds a contract option to bring the 34-year-old attacking midfielder back for the post-World Cup portion of the MLS season. But with underwhelming on-field results, there's little incentive to exercise it. When asked if he expects Rodriguez to return in July, El-Ahmad replied simply: "We take this as it comes."

Rodriguez has been noncommittal about his plans after the World Cup, saying his focus is solely on preparing for the tournament. He showed flashes of brilliance in his only MLS start, creating five scoring chances in a narrow 1-0 loss to LAFC on April 25. "There's still a month to go, and I'm training hard—training to the max, going all out," he said after that match. "Whatever playing time comes my way here, I think it's going to go well."

But consistency has been elusive. Last weekend, Rodriguez missed the 3-2 win over Columbus Crew due to what the club called a "previously scheduled routine medical procedure." It was just the latest in a series of absences that have included a work visa issue, a foot injury, extreme dehydration, and that routine procedure.

When Minnesota United shocked the soccer world by signing the two-time UEFA Champions League winner and 2024 World Cup golden boot leader last June, expectations were sky-high. But the returns have been underwhelming: no goals and no assists in 104 minutes across 11 MLS matches this season, plus 79 scoreless minutes in the U.S. Open Cup.

Despite the on-field struggles, El-Ahmad praised Rodriguez's professionalism. "He's been amazing off the pitch, great in training. I don't know if you saw training today—he scored the last goal, and everyone ran around and celebrated."

With only two more home games before the World Cup break, Minnesota fans may be witnessing the final chapter of the James Rodriguez experiment. Whether he returns in July remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the Colombian star's primary focus is on representing his country on the world's biggest stage.