FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — American midfielder Brenden Aaronson had a good excuse to miss the U.S. World Cup team's training session Friday — he was getting married.
The Leeds midfielder married longtime girlfriend Milana D'Ambra, daughter of Saint Joseph's men's soccer coach Don D'Ambra.
Aaronson, also a member of the 2022 U.S. World Cup squad, left camp after Thursday's session and was due back in time for training Saturday.
Teammates React to News
Unable to attend the wedding himself, fellow midfielder Gio Reyna was being represented by wife Chloe.
American goalkeeper Chris Brady said Aaronson was likely playing golf Friday afternoon ahead of the ceremony.
"Good luck. Don't (mess) it up," teammates told Aaronson before he left camp. "Say I do."
Family Background
Aaronson, 25, is part of a well-known U.S. soccer family from Medford, New Jersey. His brother Paxten is with Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids and sister Jaden played for Villanova as a freshman last fall. Their father, Rusty, is sporting director of Real Futbol Academy in Medford.
World Cup Timing Context
Timing for the wedding was tricky. Players at the World Cup are supposed to get 21 days off before reporting to Premier League clubs ahead of season openers from Aug. 21-23. The U.S. finale could be as early as June 25 if the Americans are eliminated in the group stage or as late as July 19 in the unlikely event they reach the final for the first time.
The U.S. team allowed star Christian Pulisic to skip training to attend his Hershey High School prom on May 27, 2016, at the Hershey Hotel in Pennsylvania, then return for the following day's Copa America match against Bolivia in Kansas City, Kansas.