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The United States men’s national team is already facing a major injury question mark before the 2026 FIFA World Cup even kicks off.
Chris Richards, the 26-year-old many consider the USMNT’s best defender heading into the tournament, will not be traveling for the team’s international friendly against Senegal on Sunday.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino said Richards suffered an ankle injury which kept him out of Crystal Palace’s final two matches of the season. And even worse for fans, there is currently no public timetable for his return.
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Chris Richards of the United States prepares before the Gold Cup match against Haiti at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, June 22, 2025. The United States won 2-1. (Shaun Clark/Getty Images)
“I think he needs to continue his rehabilitation,” Pochettino said, according to the New York Post. “I think it’s much better to stay here and plan to train and [see] next week, how does it go.
The “here” Pochettino is talking about is the USMNT training center in Atlanta, where Richards is staying while his teammates head to Charlotte, North Carolina, for their match against Senegal.
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Richards was also not present when the team’s 26-man roster was revealed in New York last week, instead sending a video message while he remained with Crystal Palace for their European final match in Germany. He did not play the match despite being available as a substitute.
Richards has yet to train with the USMNT and Pochettino doesn’t seem too optimistic about his ability to be ready for the team’s opener against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles.
Chris Richards, wearing jersey number 3, plays for the United States during an international friendly soccer match against Japan at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio, September 9, 2025. (Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)
“I was asking yesterday when he arrived at [assistant coach] Jesus [Pérez] 100 times, ‘What do you think, what do you think, what training we have’,” Pochettino explained. “Wait, wait, wait, wait. The response was “Wait, wait, wait.” It’s too early. We have to see. The next few days will be decisive in seeing the possibilities of being ready or not for the World Cup.”
Although Richards is not expected to be removed from the list, FIFA requires all 48 teams to finalize their 26-man rosters by June. Teams can still make roster changes due to injury up to 24 hours before their first game.
The USMNT will look to check their chemistry and technical skills against Senegal, while also taking on Germany in a pre-World Cup friendly before traveling to Los Angeles for the start of their Group D schedule.
After Paraguay, the United States will face Australia in Seattle on June 19, followed by Turkey in their final group stage match on June 25 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Chris Richards trains with the United States men’s national soccer team at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground in Marietta, Georgia on March 26, 2026. (John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
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But a significant question mark remains over one of the most important positions on the field for the USMNT: center back. Richards is a natural fit there, but the depth behind him is much less compelling, even after Pochettino sacrificed some attacking options to bolster his squad’s defense.
Richards was scheduled to start every game for the United States before the roster was even finalized, so it will be interesting to see how his injury progresses heading into the first game on June 12.
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