PSV Eindhoven and the United States Men's National Team have been dealt a significant blow after striker Ricardo Pepi suffered a broken forearm during a league match on Saturday.
Injury Strikes After Goal in Eredivisie Rout
The 23-year-old American forward was forced to leave the pitch during PSV's commanding 5-1 victory over Excelsior. The injury occurred in unfortunate circumstances, as Pepi landed awkwardly immediately after scoring his side's second goal of the match.
Medical scans at a hospital later that night confirmed the fracture. PSV have confirmed the player will undergo surgery on Sunday and is expected to be sidelined for approximately two months. The club stated there were no indications of further complications but ruled him out for the immediate future.
A Cruel Setback for Player and Club
PSV head coach Peter Bosz expressed his disappointment, highlighting the untimely nature of the injury. "It didn't look good right away and at such a moment you would prefer to look the other way," Bosz said in a club statement.
He pointed out the particular frustration given Pepi's recent return to form following a previous knee injury. "Last January Ricardo was already out due to his knee injury. It won't last that long now, but unfortunately we lost him again," Bosz added.
The coach emphasised that the striker had been in excellent condition. "Pepi was on a good run, had a strong training camp and was all the way back. He became more confident and was in that good flow again. All signs were green for a strong second half of the season, so this is incredibly disappointing."
World Cup Countdown Now a Race Against Time
The injury raises immediate concerns for the United States as they build towards the 2026 World Cup. Pepi has been a regular fixture for the national team, earning 34 caps and scoring 13 goals. He featured during the most recent international window in November.
With the US set to begin their World Cup campaign on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Pepi now faces a tight timeline to regain full fitness. His availability for the upcoming March friendlies against Belgium and Portugal is now in serious doubt.
This setback interrupts a promising period for the forward, who had successfully re-established himself at club level after his knee problem. Both PSV and the USMNT will be hoping for a smooth and swift recovery as critical fixtures loom on the horizon.
