Hamburg

James Sands’s hopes of featuring in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup are in jeopardy after a left ankle injury ruled him out for the remainder of the Bundesliga season.

The FC St. Pauli midfielder was scheduled to undergo ankle surgery on Friday in Munich, the club said, without giving a timeline for his return.

The 25-year-old sustained the injury following a foul during Sunday’s match against Eintracht Frankfurt. The full extent of the injury was confirmed only after medical scans conducted later.

Sands has made 14 appearances for the United States men's national soccer team since 2021.

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup — to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada — is scheduled to begin in about three months, raising doubts about whether Sands will recover in time to participate.