US Women’s National Team Captain Becky Sauerbrunn has confirmed she will miss this summer’s World Cup due to a foot injury sustained in April.
“Heartbroken isn’t even the half of it,” the two-time World Cup winner, Olympic bronze and gold medalist, and three-time NWSL champion said in a statement.
“But that’s sports for you and that’s life, really,” the statement continued.
“I had hoped and worked and hoped some more to make it back in time to help lead the team at this World Cup, but after lots of discussion, unfortunately, there’s just too much variability in my return to play timeline. So, I’ll be home, working as hard as I can to get back as quickly as I can.”
— Becky Sauerbrunn (@beckysauerbrunn) June 17, 2023
Sauerbrunn expressed support for her teammates and said she has no doubt that “the twenty-three players on the final roster have everything they need — in their feet, their heads, and their hearts — to bring our fifth trophy home.”
Sauerbrunn, who injured her foot playing for Portland Thorns FC, returned to play for the team on June 3 but is believed to have suffered a setback.
She is one of several American players, including forward Mallory Swanson and midfielder Catarina Macario, to miss out through injury as the US seeks to win their third title in a row after victories in 2015 and 2019.
US Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski is expected to announce his squad within the week. Their first match is against Vietnam on July 21, the day after the Republic of Ireland plays co-hosts Australia in their opening fixture.