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Patrick Agyemang's chances of featuring for the U.S. men's national team at the 2026 World Cup have been dashed after he was confirmed to have sustained a severe Achilles tendon injury.
The 25-year-old featured in both of the USMNT's March friendlies—losses to Belgium and Portugal—and appeared to be a strong candidate for a spot on Mauricio Pochettino's squad. However, after being carried off the pitch during club side Derby County's 2–0 victory over Stoke City in the English Championship, it has been confirmed that he will not recover in time for this summer's World Cup.
The club can confirm Patrick Agyemang suffered a serious Achilles tendon injury during the first half of the Sky Bet Championship fixture against Stoke City.
We're all with you, Pat. 🖤
"Patrick will be undergoing a further assessment of the injury later today," a Derby statement read. "The club will provide Patrick with the highest level of medical care and rehabilitation throughout his recovery.
"Everyone at Derby County is fully behind Patrick at this difficult time and will continue to support him every step of the way. As a result of this injury, Patrick will unfortunately miss this summer's FIFA World Cup. At this stage it would be wrong to put a timeline on his recovery."
Pochettino's Other Options
The USMNT finds itself in a relatively fortunate position given that Agyemang was not a regular starter, yet he had proven to be an impactful player at times—both for Charlotte FC during his MLS days and for Derby in the Championship, where 10 goals and three assists this season mark a solid debut campaign in England.
Folarin Balogun appears to be a certainty as the USMNT's first-choice striker, and Ricardo Pepi is difficult to overlook as a backup option given his strong international track record and impressive form for Dutch powerhouse PSV Eindhoven. Agyemang's injury likely opens the door for Haji Wright to earn inclusion, though the 28-year-old may feel he has already done more than enough to secure his spot.
Indeed, Wright has netted 16 goals in 34 Championship appearances for table-toppers Coventry City—a considerably better return than Agyemang's, and for a side spearheading the push for Premier League promotion.
His current goal tally matches what he managed in his debut season at the club, with his output dipping to 12 goals during the 2024–25 campaign solely due to injury setbacks.
Wright also brings World Cup pedigree to the table, having been part of the USMNT squad that advanced to the round of 16 at the 2022 tournament. He scored just his second international goal in the eventual 3–1 loss to the Netherlands, and has since added five more to bring his overall tally to seven goals from 20 caps.