U.S. men’s national team midfielder Weston McKennie was dismissed by coach Gregg Berhalter for breaking the team’s COVID-19 bubble on two separate occasions, according to ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle.
ESPN reports the Juventus midfielder spent a night outside of the team’s COVID-19 bubble while he also reportedly brought an unauthorized individual to his hotel room on a separate evening, per TUDN’s “Hablamos Soccer” podcast.
After starting in the USMNT’s scoreless draw with El Salvador to open World Cup qualifying, McKennie was suspended for a 1-1 draw with Canada in Nashville for violating the team’s COVID protocols. On Monday, Berhalter dismissed McKennie back to Italy, ruling him out for Wednesday’s qualifier in Honduras.
“Unfortunately I am suspended for tonight’s match due to a violation of team COVID protocols,” McKennie posted on Instagram before the Canada match. “I am sorry for my actions. I will be cheering hard for the boys tonight and hope to be back with the team soon.”
It’s not the first COVID breach for the 23-year-old Texas native as McKennie was suspended in April by then-Juventus manager Andrea Pirlo for hosting a party in violation of Italy’s COVID-19 protocols.
Along with McKennie, the USMNT will also be missing key starters in Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen (COVID-19) and Barcelona full back Sergiño Dest (injury) against Honduras.
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