Antonee Robinson is among three players ruled out of the Concacaf Nations League Finals by the United States men’s national team. The Fulham defender, along with Real Betis midfielder Johnny Cardoso and Celtic center back Auston Trusty, has withdrawn from the competition due to injuries. They will be replaced by MLS players Max Arfsten from Columbus Crew, Brian Gutierrez from Chicago Fire, and Jack McGlynn from Houston Dynamo.
The USMNT is set to face Panama in the first semifinal at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday. The second semifinal will feature Canada against Mexico, while the third-place match and final will occur on Sunday.
During a press conference on Tuesday, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino did not specify the nature of the players’ injuries, stating only that they would miss the Nations League matches for “medical reasons.”
“It’s difficult to explain because I am not a doctor,” Pochettino remarked. “I am not the right person to clarify what happened with these players. But for various reasons, they have medical issues and cannot be here.”
Replacing Robinson will present a challenge, especially since he played a full match for Fulham against Tottenham just days earlier. His absence at left back will compel Pochettino to reassess his defensive lineup, potentially opting for Arfsten, Tim Ream, or Joe Scally to step in.
Arfsten, Gutierrez, and McGlynn have previous experience with the USMNT, having participated in the January camp. Arfsten and Gutierrez both earned their first two caps in victories against Venezuela and Costa Rica, while McGlynn made his mark by scoring the opening goal in the 3-1 win over Venezuela.
