United States men’s national team attacking midfielder Gio Reyna issued a statement for the first time since a shocking Sunday report from The Athletic claimed that his role in the 2022 World Cup was limited due to “an alarming lack of effort” in preparation for the tournament.
The report from The Athletic’s Paul Tenorio and Sam Stejskal detailed team-wide frustration with Reyna that began with the 20-year-old’s lack of intensity in a pre-Cup friendly against Al-Gharafa SC of the Qatari league on Nov. 19. The situation apparently escalated during the United States’s 1–1 draw with Wales in its World Cup opener when a frustrated Reyna “threw his shin guards after not being subbed in” during the game and proceeded to display a lack of effort in the next U.S. training session.
Reyna apologized to the team, and the situation improved after that, according to Tenorio and Stejskal. When the United States lost 3–1 to the Netherlands in the round of 16, the Borussia Dortmund player subbed on in the 46th minute.
