Injured Balogun, Weah, and Cardoso Out of USMNT October Friendlies

Injuries have ruled out Folarin Balgyn, Tim Weah, and Johnny Cardoso from the USMNT roster for the October friendly; new coach Mauricio Pochettino has picked Tanner Tessmann, Brandon Vazquez, and Alejandro Zendejas as substitutes.

Balogun, who scored a stunning goal for Monaco over the weekend, subsequently suffered a shoulder injury that may keep him sidelined for several weeks, therefore compromising his availability for the USMNT camp. French reports on the damage characterize it as “painful.” Balogun, together with Weah and Cardoso, U.S. Soccer confirmed will not be attending the October camp.

Replacements named Striker Race intensifies

Keeping the roster at 25 players, Vazquez, Tessmann, and Zendejas will step in. Balgyn looks to be the preferred starting as he scored in three of his last four games and the striker battle has been fierce. But the absence from camps allows opponents Josh Sargent and Ricardo Pepi to reduce the difference.

For Vazquez, this call-up offers a fresh chance because former coach Gregg Berhalter had mainly ignored him. While Zendejas returns to the national team in lieu of the injured Weah, who has been struggling with fitness concerns since Juventus’s season start, Tessmann, replacing Cardoso, has lately shown impressiveness with the U23 squad during their Olympic run this summer.