On May 23, 2023, U.S. Women’s National Team forward Catalina Macario announced that she would not be able to recover from an anterior cruciate ligament injury in time for the upcoming Women’s World Cup this summer. Macario, who is 23 years old, has been sidelined for almost a year since sustaining the injury in the final game of last season at French club Lyon.
Despite returning to training, Macario will not be able to play before USWNT manager Vlatko Andonovski announces his squad for the World Cup by July 10th. The tournaments in Australia and New Zealand will begin on July 20, with the United States playing their opening match against Vietnam the following day.
In a social media post, Macario shared that although she regrets not being able to physically prepare for the World Cup, her priority is to focus on her mental and physical health for the next club season. She expressed gratitude towards American football and Vlatko for prioritizing long-term health over personal and collective ambitions.
Macario’s absence will be another setback for the United States, who is chasing a third consecutive World Cup title. The team has already experienced an injury to forward Mallory Swanson, and Macario’s eight goals and two assists in 17 appearances for the United States make her a key player in the team.
Despite the setback, Macario is rumored to be on the move to Chelsea in the WSL for the next season.