United States midfielder Brenden Aaronson skipped Friday's World Cup training session for a very personal reason: his own wedding.
The Leeds United player married his longtime girlfriend, Milana D’Ambra, daughter of Saint Joseph’s men’s soccer coach Don D’Ambra.
Aaronson, a member of the 2022 U.S. World Cup squad, departed camp after Thursday's session and is expected to rejoin the team for training on Saturday.
The 25-year-old hails from Medford, New Jersey, part of a prominent soccer family; his brother Paxten plays for MLS's Colorado Rapids, and sister Jaden played for Villanova. Their father, Rusty, is sporting director of Real Futbol Academy.
This isn't unprecedented for the national team. In 2016, Christian Pulisic was permitted to miss training to attend his high school prom before returning for a Copa America match.
Mauricio Pochettino announced his World Cup squad earlier this week, with Aaronson expected to play a key role as the co-hosts bid to go deep into this summer’s tournament.
The US will begin their World Cup campaign on 12 June when they face Paraguay in Inglewood, California.
They will then have to wait a full week for their next match against Australia, which will take place in Seattle.
USA will then head back to California for their final group match when they will take on Turkey on 25 June.
This will be the USA’s 11th appearance at a World Cup but they are still yet to progress beyond the round of 16 in the 21st century.
They were eliminated in the first knockout round at the 2010, 2014 and 2022 editions of the tournament, having not qualified in 2018.
This time, they will be hoping to use home advantage to go further, and will need the likes of Aaronson and Pulisic on top form to trouble the favorites this summer.
