Sergiño Dest is reportedly set to miss the USA’s upcoming pre-World Cup matches against Belgium and Portugal. This comes after he sustained a leg injury during PSV Eindhoven’s Dutch league match against AZ Alkmaar, where he was seen grabbing his left hamstring and required assistance to leave the pitch.

“PSV will not have Sergiño Dest available for the upcoming period, as revealed in a medical examination on Sunday,” stated the team, regarding the injury deemed an upper leg ailment. The timeframe for his recovery remains uncertain.

The friendly matches are scheduled for March 28 against Belgium and April 1 against Portugal in Atlanta. Coach Mauricio Pochettino is expected to disclose his roster in late May, leading up to additional friendlies against Senegal on May 31 and Germany on June 6.

The USA’s first match in Group D is against Paraguay on June 12 in Inglewood, California, followed by a game against Australia six days later in Seattle. The group stage concludes on June 25 at SoFi Stadium against the playoff winner among Turkey, Slovakia, Romania, and Kosovo.

PSV reported that Dest is “focused on returning towards the season’s final stages, with next summer’s World Cup an important aspiration as well.”

Having scored two goals in 37 international caps, Dest was a mainstay in all four matches of the 2022 World Cup.

“I am committed to regaining my fitness toward the end of the season and I am optimistic about my success,” Dest stated in a released statement.

Should Dest be unable to participate in the World Cup, options for the right-back position include Tim Weah, Alex Freeman, and Joe Scally.