Aaronson Granted Brief Leave From U.S. World Cup Camp to Marry
Aaronson Granted Brief Leave From U.S. World Cup Camp to Marry
United States midfielder Brenden Aaronson was absent from the national team’s World Cup training session Friday to get married, with the squad granting him leave after Thursday’s session before expecting him back in time for Saturday’s work.
Aaronson, 25, is marrying Milana D’Ambra, whose father Don D’Ambra coaches the men’s soccer program at Saint Joseph’s University. Aaronson plays for Leeds United in England’s Premier League and is among the players called into the U.S. setup ahead of the tournament, having also been part of the American squad at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The brief personal absence follows a precedent the federation established in May 2016, when it permitted a teenage Christian Pulisic to leave camp to attend his Hershey High School prom before returning for a Copa América group-stage match against Bolivia the following day.
Aaronson comes from a prominent soccer family based in Medford, New Jersey. His brother Paxten is on the roster of Major League Soccer side Colorado Rapids, his sister Jaden played collegiate soccer at Villanova, and their father Rusty serves as sporting director of Real Futbol Academy in Medford. Aaronson is expected back with the U.S. squad Saturday to resume preparations.
