FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — As if Brenden Aaronson didn’t have a busy enough week, getting named to the USMNT’s World Cup roster and reporting to camp here in Georgia, here came another milestone on Friday: his wedding.
Aaronson was absent from Friday’s training session for the altogether wonderful reason of saying his vows to fiancée Milana D’Ambra. He’ll rejoin the team for training Saturday before the USMNT jets to Charlotte to play Senegal in the first of two sendoff friendlies.
“Don’t f—k it up,” goalkeeper Chris Brady joked to Aaronson before he left on Thursday night.
When Aaronson’s teammates spoke with reporters on Friday, it wasn’t yet clear whether phones would be allowed at the wedding. If so, the plan was for Gio Reyna’s wife, Chloe, to FaceTime in so the team could gather around a laptop and watch the wedding.
“I think a lot of us have been through something of that magnitude,” midfielder Cristian Roldan said. “For me, it’s obviously my wedding, my child. For us, we’re a family. We want to make sure everybody gets their moment together.
“For us, it’s not a distraction at all. Brenden had asked way ahead of time, and he’s a responsible young adult to be able to do so. So credit to him. The coaching staff was on board with it. And so if this coaching staff is on board, we’re all trying to be involved and have a good time with it.”
Funnily enough, Aaronson is not the first national team player to get married under such circumstances. Center back Mark McKenzie used a break between training camp in the run-up to the 2024 Copa America and the tournament itself to marry his wife, Carley.
“It’s not the easiest thing, but you make it happen,” McKenzie said. “I’m really happy for him. I’ve known B since we were 10 years old, 11 years old. Seeing him get married when he hasn’t grown any facial hair.”
The whole situation, McKenzie said, was a lot more stressful for his wife than it was for him.
“Hoping there’s no flight cancelations, no last-minute changes, but it’s a special moment,” he said. “I think everyone is understanding of that and excited for him. When he gets back, we’ll be sure to break him in a little bit and welcome him back with open arms.”
Chris Richards arrived in Georgia on Friday morning, having played in Wednesday’s Conference League final with Crystal Palace.
Saturday, when Aaronson is back, will be the first time all 26 members of the World Cup squad are together.
