USMNT's Brenden Aaronson forced off with injury 26 days before World Cup opener

Aaronson was taken off during Leeds' match against Brighton Michael Steele/Getty Images Share articleU.S. midfielder Brenden Aaronson left Leeds United’s Sunday match against Brighton & Hove Albion in discomfort, sparking concerns about his availability for the 2026 World Cup. Aaronson went down the 58th minute of Leeds’ penultimate Premier League match after struggling with an apparent issue to his left leg. Leeds medical staff jogged onto the field for manual tests and discussions with Aaronson. A minute later, he limped off the field and was replaced. He was not distraught, but did look concerned and in discomfort as he headed toward the bench. The concern comes a week before U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino is set to name his 26-player squad for the World Cup this summer. Aaronson, 25, is expected to be among the 26. He has not been a regular starter for the USMNT in years, but his relatively strong season at Leeds has put him in contention for minutes this summer. If healthy, he is a candidate for a role similar to the one he played at the 2022 World Cup, when he brought energy as a second-half substitute. If he were to miss the World Cup, it would be a blow on a personal level, but the U.S. has plenty of depth in attacking midfield areas. It’s unclear what led to the physical issue. Aaronson was moving fine, and contributing to an attack, in the 56th minute. But in the 57th, he began visibly struggling, bereft of the energy that typically defines his game. And in the 58th minute, he sank to the pitch and called for medical attention. The U.S. World Cup squad will be revealed May 26 at a public event in New York, two days after the final day of the Premier League season. The USMNT begins its World Cup campaign against Paraguay on June 12. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms