Irregular heartbeat ends Dempsey's season
An irregular heartbeat could see the United States be without Clint Dempsey for its World Cup qualifiers with Mexico and Costa Rica.
There was initial optimism that he would return in the current MLS season, but the 33-year-old stopped training with the club last week.
Sounders general manager Garth Lagerwey announced on Tuesday that his star forward will not play again in 2016.
And worryingly for national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann Dempsey's condition puts his status for the first two games of the CONCACAF qualifiers in jeopardy.
United States host Mexico on 12 November and travel to Costa Rica four days later but Dempsey - who has 52 international goals - is unlikely to be part of the squad..