NASHVILLE, TN – Nashville SC midfielder Patrick Yazbek won't return from injury before the World Cup break, head coach BJ Callaghan confirmed in his pre-match media availability on Friday.
Yazbek, 24, was injured in warmups before Nashville's 1-0 loss to Tigres on Tuesday in the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal on Tuesday. Callaghan confirmed on Friday that he suffered a quad injury, and won't return before MLS pauses their league slate on May 23 for the FIFA World Cup. Nashville won't play again until July 17.
Yazbek has been a key player for Nashville since joining in the summer of 2024, but has taken a major step forward in 2026. The midfielder has 1,238 minutes in all competitions, making 12 starts and playing 69% of potential minutes. He's improved this season in the final third, already logging a goal and three assists.
The injury puts Yazbek's World Cup participation in jeopardy. The midfielder has been on the fringes of the Autralian national team, making nine appearances for the Socceroos, but an unused substitute in their latest round of games.
Callaghan also provided an injury update on Eddi Tagseth and Sam Surridge. Tagseth was injured 18 minutes into Nashville's 1-0 loss to Tigres in the home leg, and Callaghan said the 25-year-old Norwegian is a "long shot" to return before the break.
Surridge is less certain, suffering a back injury in the closing minutes of a 4-2 win over Charlotte FC. Callaghan said he is still "week-to-week", and that his injury is more "symptom-based", leaving the door open for the Golden Boot contender to return earlier. Callaghan said they're "optimistic" with Surridge.
With Tagseth and Yazbek out, Matt Corcoran and Bryan Acosta are expected to form the starting midfield duo, with rookie Charles-Émile Brunet the backup.
