The United States men’s national team will have to survive its vital World Cup qualifier next week without its most accomplished player as star forward Clint Dempsey is tested to determine the cause of an irregular heartbeat.
The Seattle Sounders, Dempsey’s club team, announced Friday he would miss a Saturday game against rival Portland to be examined.
The health issue has caused no decline in his recent performance. In fact, Dempsey lately had been playing some of his best soccer of the MLS season. He scored five goals over the past four games, including a hat trick on the road at Orlando City FC and two goals in a 3-1 victory over Portland last Sunday.