USMNT's James Sands Faces Indefinite Recovery After Severe Ankle Injury

The 24-year-old midfielder suffered a complex ankle injury, including a fractured fibula and torn ligament, during a Bundesliga match for St. Pauli.

James Sands, on loan to German club St. Pauli from NYCFC, sustained a serious ankle injury during stoppage time in a 1-0 loss to Freiburg.
The injury involved a fractured fibula, a torn medial collateral ligament, and other complications, requiring surgery in Hamburg, Germany.
St. Pauli coach Alexander Blessin described the injury as devastating, emphasizing Sands' importance to the team since joining in January.
Sands has been ruled out of the upcoming Concacaf Nations League finals and faces an uncertain timeline for recovery.
The 24-year-old midfielder had hoped his move to Europe would bolster his chances of earning a spot on the USMNT roster for the 2026 World Cup.