United States defender Sergiño Dest limped off with an apparent hamstring injury during PSV Eindhoven’s 2-1 win over AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch league on Saturday, putting him in doubt for the USMNT’s upcoming friendlies against Belgium and Portugal.
Dest grabbed his left hamstring and screamed in pain while covering his eyes after tumbling in his own penalty area chasing Alkmaar’s Wouter Goes in the second half. The full-back was substituted in the 57th minute, leaving the field with the assistance of two medical staff, unable to put weight on his left leg.
“He landed on the ground after a full sprint and grabbed his hamstring. That’s usually not good news,” PSV coach Peter Bosz said.
The US host Belgium on 28 March and Portugal on 1 April in warmup matches for the World Cup, which they are co-hosting with Mexico and Canada in June and July.
“I’m out for a little while to do what I love the most!” Dest wrote Sunday on Instagram. “But one thing for sure this is NOT the end of the season!”
The 25-year-old has two goals in 37 international appearances and started all four US matches at the 2022 World Cup.
He joined PSV from Barcelona but was sidelined for nearly 11 months after tearing an ACL in April 2024, missing that year’s Copa América. If Dest is unable to play at the World Cup, Juventus’s Tim Weah — who is on loan at Marseille — could slot in at right-back, or right-wingback should Mauricio Pochettino elect to use three center-backs as he did for the most recent US games. Villarreal’s Alex Freeman and Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Joe Scally are also options.
Dest’s American teammate Ricardo Pepi scored PSV’s winner from close range in the 86th minute of that game. It was his 10th league goal this season and his 13th over 26 games in all competitions.
