This probably isn't the news that Landon Donovan fans who were holding out for him to make a shock return to the United States National Team were imagining. There's been no injured player to fill in for, no last minute change of heart from coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
Donovan will be participating in the World Cup, but for the first time, as a member of the media. According to ESPN, he'll be joining their Los Angeles studio to provide analysis before, after, and at half-time of each United States game, and will appear on select SportsCenter segments.
Just last week, Donovan told The Dan Patrick Show was undecided about his World Cup viewing experience.
"Part of me just wants to sit on my couch and sit there and let the emotions go one way or the other so I am not around anybody. And part of me wants to go to a bar and have a few beers and watch with local soccer fans and experience it all that way. I don't know," said Donovan.
It looks like Donovan's shadow over this team will be looming even larger in the coming weeks. Every word, utterance, and criticism he'll have on this team will be a headline in and of itself.
