USMNT World Cup Hopeful Suffers Injury, Carried Off on Stretcher

Just weeks away from the World Cup, USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino will have to evaluate the extent of his player’s injury.

Mauricio Pochettino plans to name his final World Cup roster by the May international window. | Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

USMNT striker Patrick Agyemang suffered an injury on Monday in Derby County’s match against Stoke City and was stretchered off the field towards the end of the first half, with a face of anger and frustration.

It was a non-contact, seemingly-fluke accident, as Agyemang attempted to control the ball with his chest but landed awkwardly, injuring his lower left leg—potentially his ankle or Achilles.

With World Cup kickoff less than 10 weeks away—and manager Mauricio Pochettino hoping to name his final roster even sooner, this could be a devastating blow for Agyemang and the USMNT.

Patrick Agyemang could make his World Cup debut this summer. | Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The 25-year-old star striker clocked serious minutes in the Stars and Stripes’ March international window last week. He subbed on at the 71st minute against Belgium on March 28 and immediately made an impact, scoring a consolation goal 15 minutes later to soften Belgium’s destruction, 5–2. Agyemang then played the second half of the U.S.’s loss to Portugal on Tuesday, subbing on for the recently ineffective, yet continual star Christian Pulisic. Agyemang has six goals in 13 total appearances at the international level.

Although competing with the likes of Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi, among others, for a striker spot on manager Mauricio Pochettino’s final World Cup roster, Agyemang has proven his worth, especially given his recent play across the pond at the club level.

Agyemang has tallied 10 goals and three assists for Derby County in his 32 starts for the Championship side, leaving MLS for the East Midlands last July on a club-record sale for Charlotte FC. He left The Crown as the MLS club’s second highest all-time goal scorer, notching 22 goals in 72 matches across all competitions.

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What Happens Now for Pochettino, USMNT?

Pressure is mounting on Mauricio Pochettino. | Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images

The extent of Agyemang’s injury is not yet known; however, the pressure still mounts for Pochettino to re-evaluate his roster. The Argentine boss has given himself the tall order of naming his final World Cup squad by the May international window—when the USMNT face Senegal and Germany for last-minute tuneups—in an effort to avoid any player heartbreak in the final days before the World Cup kicks off in June.

Agyemang, who debuted for the USMNT just last year in the January 2025 camp, was eager to make his first appearance on soccer’s grandest stage. Should Agyemang be unable to go, though, Balogun, Pepi and a fellow Championship-side player, Haji Wright of Coventry City, will have a higher likelihood of making Pochettino’s final roster.

Increasing offensive prowess has been top of mind for Pochettino, in the wake of Pulisic’s continued goal drought, making Agyemang’s potential departure an even greater blow.

This story will be updated.

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