After weeks on the sidelines, USMNT defender Sergiño Dest is back in action—and just in time to make his case for a spot on the World Cup roster.

Dest made his return from a hamstring injury on Saturday, coming off the bench in PSV Eindhoven's thrilling 2-2 draw against Ajax in the Dutch Eredivisie. The 25-year-old entered the match near the hour mark with the score tied 1-1, marking his first appearance since injuring his left hamstring on March 7 against AZ Alkmaar.

The timing couldn't be more critical. Dest missed two recent pre-World Cup friendlies for the United States and had to watch from the sidelines as PSV clinched the league title with five games to spare. But this return gives a major boost to his chances of making the squad for the 2026 World Cup, which kicks off in North America this June and July.

The match itself was a nail-biter. Fellow substitute Myron Boadu put PSV ahead in the 77th minute, but Ajax's Mika Godts snatched a late equalizer in injury time, leaving the points shared in Amsterdam.

Dest brings valuable experience to the USMNT backline. With two goals in 37 international appearances, he started all four of the United States' matches at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. That kind of big-game experience is exactly what head coach Gregg Berhalter will be looking for as the team prepares for a challenging Group D.

The U.S. opens its World Cup campaign against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, before facing Australia six days later in Seattle. The group stage concludes on June 25 back at SoFi Stadium against Turkey.

For fans and players alike, having Dest back on the pitch is a promising sign—and a reminder that the road to the World Cup is paved with resilience.