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USMNT’s James Sands (ankle surgery) in doubt for World Cup

By Thomson Reuters Mar 13, 2026 | 9:06 PM

The U.S. men’s national team might not have the services of ​defender James Sands ‌in the World Cup after a left ankle injury ended his Bundesliga season last weekend.

Sands, ‌25, ​was scheduled ⁠to have surgery ⁠on his ankle Friday in Munich, Germany, according to his club, FC St. ​Pauli.

The club offered no timeframe for Sands’ ⁠return to ⁠the pitch.

A Rye, N.Y., ​native, Sands was injured ​last Sunday on a foul ‌against Eintracht Frankfurt, but it took days for scans to reveal the ⁠extent of the injury.

Since 2021, Sands has 14 appearances for the ⁠USMNT, ‌with the most ⁠recent coming in ​October ‌as a starter in ​a friendly ⁠win against Australia.

The USMNT opens play June 12 against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.

–Field ​Level Media