A Wedding on the Training Ground
Midfielder Brenden Aaronson skipped a U.S. men’s national team training session to tie the knot, and manager Mauricio Pochettino granted him permission to depart camp for the ceremony.
The rest of the squad will tune in to the nuptials via FaceTime, a modern twist on a tradition that saw Christian Pulisic miss a session for his high school prom a decade ago and Mark McKenzie get married ahead of the 2024 Copa América.
Having trained together for nearly ten years, the USMNT hopes to translate that chemistry into a strong showing at the upcoming World Cup, which opens on June 12 with a match against Paraguay in Los Angeles.
Aaronson will have to remove his wedding band before stepping onto the pitch for the tournament and its lead‑up friendlies, but the memory of his wedding will remain a unique footnote in the team's preparation.