The USMNT's World Cup dreams just hit a major roadblock. Atletico Madrid midfielder Johnny Cardoso suffered a high-grade ankle sprain during training on Thursday, putting his participation in this summer's home World Cup in serious jeopardy. The 23-year-old, who came off the bench in Atletico's 1-0 loss to Arsenal on Tuesday, showed no signs of trouble during that match. But a routine training session later in the week took a devastating turn, leaving his season at the club level effectively over.

Cardoso's initial recovery timeline is set at roughly one month, which would bring him back just in time for the World Cup opener on June 12th against Paraguay. But that's cutting it dangerously close. Any setback or extended recovery could see him miss the entire tournament. The USMNT, now under Mauricio Pochettino's guidance, will need every bit of midfield depth they can get as they host the globe's biggest stage.

The injury adds to what's been a frustrating, injury-plagued year for the American star. He'll miss Atletico's final four La Liga matches against Celta Vigo, Osasuna, Girona, and Villarreal. More concerning, he'll also sit out crucial World Cup warm-up friendlies against Senegal and Germany. Those games were meant to build chemistry and match fitness ahead of the tournament. The USMNT's group stage also features tough tests against Australia on June 19th and Turkiye on the 25th.

For Atletico manager Diego Simeone, the focus now shifts to securing third place in La Liga, though his side trails Villarreal by five points with just four games left. Adding to the injury woes, Cardoso's teammate Julian Alvarez is also sidelined with ankle issues and is doubtful for this weekend's clash with Celta. But all eyes will be on Cardoso's recovery timeline. The USMNT and their fans will be holding their breath, hoping their midfield anchor can beat the clock and make it to the starting line when the World Cup kicks off on home soil.