USMNT and Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Zack Steffen has undergone surgery on his right knee and is expected to be out for four to six weeks, the Rapids announced on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. The surgery, which addressed an injury to his right medial meniscus, will sideline Steffen and force him to miss upcoming matches, including the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Steffen sustained the injury during training with the USMNT in Chicago on Wednesday, June 4, which led to his withdrawal from the national team camp. This injury not only impacts his club duties with the Colorado Rapids but also dashes his hopes of competing for the starting goalkeeper position for the United States in the upcoming Gold Cup.

The 30-year-old goalkeeper had been aiming to reclaim his starting role with the USMNT. He started six of the 14 World Cup qualifiers ahead of the 2022 tournament, including the last three, but was surprisingly left off the World Cup roster by then-coach Gregg Berhalter. Earlier this year, Steffen played his first national team match in nearly three years in a January friendly against Costa Rica. USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino had also indicated that the starting position was not guaranteed for Matt Turner, who has been the preferred choice since 2022, raising the stakes for Steffen to prove himself.

Steffen's absence presents an opportunity for other goalkeepers in the USMNT pool. Matt Freese, who plays for the Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer (MLS), has been called up as a replacement. Other goalkeepers who may vie for a spot include Sean Johnson and Brad Guzan. Matt Freese made his debut during Saturday's 2-1 loss to Turkey. Chris Brady is also on the roster.

This is not the first time Steffen has had to battle with injuries throughout his career. He has previously faced setbacks due to knee and back injuries. In May of last year, he had surgery to repair meniscus damage. Despite these challenges, Steffen has consistently demonstrated resilience and determination in his recovery efforts.

Before the knee injury, Steffen was also dealing with an oblique injury. Nicholas Defreitas Hansen has been starting in goal for the Rapids.

Steffen joined Colorado from Manchester City in January and has been the Rapids' primary goalkeeper. He previously played for Columbus Crew, Manchester City, Middlesbrough, and Fortuna Dusseldorf.