Just three months before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on home soil, USMNT fans received a worrying scare on Saturday.
Star right-back Sergiño Dest limped off with an apparent left hamstring injury during PSV Eindhoven’s 2-1 Eredivisie victory over AZ Alkmaar. The 24-year-old went down in the 57th minute after a full sprint in his own penalty area while chasing AZ defender Wouter Goes.
Dest immediately grabbed his hamstring, screamed in pain, covered his eyes with both hands, and was unable to put any weight on his left leg. Medical staff helped him off the pitch, and he did not return.
PSV coach Peter Bosz didn’t sugarcoat it in his post-match comments:
“He landed on the ground after a full sprint and grabbed his hamstring. That’s usually not good news.”
The injury comes at the worst possible time. Dest had been in excellent form for PSV this season after recovering from a long-term ACL tear in 2024. With the USMNT set to play friendlies against Belgium and Portugal later this month, his availability is now in serious doubt — and the bigger picture is the World Cup on American soil.
This isn’t Dest’s first hamstring issue either. He’s battled muscle problems in the past, and any layoff now could seriously impact his rhythm heading into the tournament.
PSV still managed to grind out the three points (goals from the match helped them stay competitive at the top of the table), but the result felt secondary to the sight of one of America’s key defenders leaving the field in clear distress.
US Soccer and PSV are expected to give an update on the severity in the coming days — scans will determine if it’s a minor strain or something that could sideline him for weeks.
For now, USMNT fans are holding their breath. With the World Cup so close, this is the kind of “not good news” no one wanted to hear.
Prayers up for a quick recovery, Sergiño. The nation needs you fit and flying in June.
