U.S. Suffer Blow As Captain Sauerbrunn To Miss Women’s World Cup

The United States suffered a huge blow ahead of the Women’s World Cup after captain Becky Sauerbrunn was ruled out of the tournament due to a foot injury that she suffered in April.

The 38-year-old was part of the U.S. team during their World Cup success in 2015 and 2019 and established herself as a key part of their backline.

Sauerbrunn had been recovering from a right foot injury that kept her on the sidelines for her National Women’s Soccer League team Portland Thorns for most of May.

“Heartbroken isn’t even the half of it. But that’s sports for you and that’s life really,” Sauerbrunn wrote in a lengthy statement on Twitter.

“I had hoped and worked and hoped some more to make it back in time to help lead the team at this World Cup, but after lots of discussion, unfortunately, there’s just too much variability in my return to play timeline. So, I’ll be home, working as hard as I can to get back on the field as quickly as I can.”

INJURY ISSUES

The news of Sauerbrunn’s absence comes a week before head coach Vlatko Andonovski is expected to announce his 23-player squad for the World Cup, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20.

The USWNT are the defending champions, having beaten the Netherlands in the final in 2019. They are also record four-time World Cup winners and four-times Olympic gold medalists.

“It’s been an honor to work and play alongside this incredible group of athletes. They have my unwavering support. And, more importantly, they have my unyielding belief. This program has always been about the collective and I have no doubt that the twenty-three players on the final roster have everything they need—in their feet, their heads and their hearts—to bring our fifth trophy home,” Sauerbrunn, who has more than 200 caps for the U.S., added.

Sauerbrunn’s injury is the latest in a series of setbacks for the U.S. who are also without winger Mallory Swanson, midfielder Sam Mewis and attacker Catarina Macario, with all sidelined with knee injuries.

The Athletic reported that defender Kelley O’Hara will likely be on the World Cup roster in the absence of Sauerbrunn, ensuring the team has an experienced player in central defense.

Defending champions U.S. are due to play Wales in a friendly before flying Down Under for the World Cup. They are in Group E with the Netherlands, Portugal and Vietnam.