Why isn't Weston McKennie playing for USA against Panama?

Panamaand the United Statesface each other at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City, today, October 10, 2021, at 6:00PM (ET), in the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers 2022.Several key players of the American squad will miss this game, and midfielderWeston McKennie is one of them. Here you will find out why the 23-year-old star is out of this clash.

This will be their 24th overall meeting. No surprises here asthe USMNT are the absolutefavorites in head-to-head clashes, having celebrated a victory on 17occasions so far; Panama have grabbed a triumph just twice to this day, and the remaining four games have ended in a draw.

Their most recent match was played on November 16,2020, when the Stars and Stripes cruised past the Red Tide 6-2 in an International Friendly. It promises to be an even more exciting clash as these two countries clash for the first time this year,at the CONCACAF World Cup 2022 Qualifiers.

Why isn’t Weston McKennie playing for USA against Panama?

Weston McKennie, alongside Zack Steffen, and Antonee Robinson of the United States men’s national team will not go to Panama for the World Cup qualifier on Sunday. The triowill fly from Austin, Texas, where the USMNT defeated Jamaica 2-0, to Columbus, Ohio, for the United States’ last international match of the month against Costa Rica on October 23.

McKennie is unable to travel due to discomfort in his right quad, according to theUnited States Soccer Federation. On Thursday, the midfielder played the whole 90 minutes against Jamaica, but he complained of leg pain and had an MRI on Friday. Despite the fact that the MRI revealed no injury or strain, McKennie will be rested for Sunday’s play and thus, he will be sentto Ohio ahead of the match against Costa Rica.

After being banned last month following numerous COVID-19 protocols infractions during the first qualification window, the midfielder has rejoined the squad. McKennie’s suspension was essentially finished, coach Gregg Berhalter confirmed prior to the Reggae Boyz clash, thus immediately returning to the team’s starting lineup.