Patrick Agyemang
USMNT centre-back ruled out with an Achilles injury; left an open slot in Pochettino's defensive selection.
Last refreshed: 15 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Without Agyemang fit, can the USMNT solve its centre-back problem before the 26 May squad call?
Timeline for Patrick Agyemang
Ruled out with Achilles injury, deepening the centre-back competition
2026 FIFA World Cup: Pochettino sets 26 May USMNT squad call with five gapsIs Patrick Agyemang going to the World Cup?
Who plays centre-back for the USMNT at the World Cup?
Background
Patrick Agyemang's Achilles injury is part of an open centre-back competition that ESPN listed as one of five unresolved USMNT selection problems ahead of Mauricio Pochettino's 26 May World Cup squad announcement. His absence, combined with other defensive injuries, means the USMNT enters the tournament without its first-choice central defensive partnership settled.
Patrick Agyemang is an American central defender who plays for Genoa in Serie A. Born in 2004, he is among the younger central defenders in contention for the USMNT World Cup squad. His Achilles injury, which ruled him out, has opened the centre-back selection to competition from other candidates including Miles Robinson and Chris Richards.
For the USMNT entering a home tournament as co-hosts, settled central defence is considered a prerequisite for progression beyond the group stage. Pochettino's acknowledged uncertainty over the centre-back position — named explicitly alongside Gio Reyna's fitness — indicates that the defensive unit may not be confirmed until close to the squad announcement.