One Leeds United attacker will find out the fate of his World Cup hopes today but hopes two of his Elland Road team-mates can use their selection heartache as fuel for next season.
Brenden Aaronson is expected to be part of the US Men's National Team squad when it is announced later today. Aaronson has spoken of his excitement at the prospect of participating in a home tournament with his family present. The forward made the USMNT squads for the October, November and March international breaks and his name appeared in what was reported to be a 'leaked' version of the World Cup squad. Still only 25, Aaronson has 57 caps to his name and nine international goals and made four appearances at the 2022 World Cup.
If his involvement is confirmed he will join Switzerland's Noak Okafor and Sweden's Gabi Gudmundsson as the Leeds representatives at the tournament, after Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Anton Stach both cruelly missed out on selection for England and Germany respectively. Calvert-Lewin scored 14 goals and was vital to Leeds’ playing style thanks to his skills as a targetman, while Stach created a huge number of chances, showcased his defensive ability and added five goals of his own.
Aaronson expressed his sympathy for the pair and praised their individual seasons at Elland Road.
"We were together when they got their announcements and stuff like that and I saw them the next day," he said. "Of course, I'm devastated for them. I think both of them deserve to go. They had fantastic seasons here, and you know they played at such a high level throughout the year, and it's really tough to not see them go, but I think that they'll use that as fire for next season and get ready to come back into it."
A home World Cup is a once in a generation opportunity for footballers and Aaronson says he shares the dream of playing in one with his family.
"Super excited for me, if I can go, it's a dream for me and my family, for them to be at the games, and to just represent my country in the World Cup on home soil, something that I'll never forget," he said.
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