Sam Mewis unlikely to play for U.S. at World Cup after surgery

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Midfielder Sam Mewis has undergone a second knee surgery and is unlikely to be available to play for the United States at the Women’s World Cup this summer.

Mewis, who also plays for the Kansas City Current in the National Women’s Soccer League, first had surgery on her right knee in August 2021. But she needed another surgery last week, he announced on social media on Monday.

“This has been a very difficult time for me personally and I have been devastated to be away from football for so long,” he said.

The loss is a blow for the United States because the 30-year-old Mewis is considered one of the best players in the world at her position. Mewis is also expected to miss the upcoming NWSL season with the Current.

“I don’t have a timetable for getting back to football, but I’m going to try my best to recover like I always have,” Mewis said.

Mewis was initially expected to be sidelined for two months after her first procedure. She was traded to the Current prior to the 2022 season and made a pair of preseason appearances, but has not played a regular season game with the team.

The Current bought out Mewis’ previous contract and signed her to a new deal through 2023.

Mewis was part of the US team that won the World Cup in 2019. A regular on the national team since 2016 with 83 caps, Mewis was named the 2020 US Soccer Player of the Year.

US coach Vlatko Andonovski hinted that Mewis’ injury could be more serious than initially thought while the team was in New Zealand for training camp and a pair of games earlier in this month

“At this point, I don’t want to guess what time it is or if he’s coming back,” Andonovski said. “With Sam, it’s a long-term injury and at this point we probably wouldn’t go into detail about that.”

Mewis last played for the United States at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics in the bronze medal game against Australia.

The team’s midfield will also likely be without Julie Ertz, who took time off for the birth of her son Madden in August and has not returned to practice.

The United States has won the last two World Cups and will compete to lift a third straight trophy this summer. Hosted by Australia and New Zealand, the month-long tournament begins on July 20.

Report from The Associated Press.

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