Weston McKennie tests positive for COVID-19

The coronavirus has hit closer to home for United States Men’s National Team fans. Today, Juventus announced that the entire first team had been moved into isolation after Weston McKennie tested positive for COVID-19.

McKennie’s positive test comes after Cristiano Ronaldo tested positive for the coronavirus yesterday, leaving the Portugal squad to isolate. Two members of the Juventus U-23 squad have also tested positive.

Up to this point, United States internationals playing in Europe had escaped catching the virus that has infected almost 40 million people worldwide, to date. A few players had been quarantined due to positive cases on their club teams, but no positive cases involved American players. McKennie will now have to isolate for at least 10 days, per Italy quarantine rules, and have multiple negative tests before he is cleared to resume play for Juventus.

Adding to the uncertainty is that UEFA requires a negative test 1 week before a European match for a player to be cleared to play. McKennie’s isolation period will keep him out of a Serie A match against Crotone this weekend, Juve’s first Champions League match next Tuesday against Dynamo Kyiv, and most likely another Serie A match against Hellas Verona on October 25th. It’s unclear whether he or Cristiano Ronaldo will be cleared in time to play against Barcelona in Champions League on October 28th.

More than anything, we all wish Weston McKennie well and hope for a quick and full recovery from this virus. We hope he’s back to 100% very soon.