ESPN.com · Dec 18, 2025
Will another injury derail Adams' World Cup prep for the U.S.?
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The U.S. men's national team will face numerous challenges in the run-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The club situations of potential players will be looked at with a microscope in terms of who is playing and who isn't, but perhaps the biggest challenge of all will be just staying healthy.
The sad reality is that injury will strike a subset of players and prevent them from taking part in the biggest soccer party on the planet. In 2022, it was Chris Richards and Miles Robinson who missed out. In 2014, it was Stuart Holden who didn't make the plane to Brazil, while Jozy Altidore was sidelined with a hamstring strain just minutes into the tournament.