CHICAGO — U.S. Men’s National Team manager Mauricio Pochettino expressed disappointment as first-choice center-back Chris Richards prepares to miss the final pre-World Cup friendly due to an ankle injury.
Richards sustained ligament damage during a match between Crystal Palace and Brentford on May 17. Initially, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner was optimistic that Richards would recover in time for the Conference League final on May 27, but he ultimately did not play.
Richards was unavailable for the United States’ first warm-up match against Senegal on Sunday and will also miss Saturday’s clash with Germany in Chicago. His fitness for the World Cup opener against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, remains uncertain. Pochettino has expressed frustration over the updates he received from Crystal Palace regarding the injury’s severity.
Pochettino remarked on the situation during a press conference, highlighting that the final roster was selected under the assumption that Richards could participate in the Conference League final. “We thought he could play, and then we believed he would be ready for the Senegal game,” he stated. “Today, we learned that his recovery will take longer than expected, and that has left me frustrated.” He emphasized Richards’s importance to the team, stating, “Everyone knows how vital he is.”
Despite his injury concerns, Richards earned a spot in the World Cup’s 26-man squad. Pochettino acknowledged that the initial information may not have been accurate and reflected on its impact on decision-making: “In the end, we are investing in a player who might not be ready for the first match. We are hopeful he can recover in time, but ultimately, we need to assess his fitness.”
Richards has become a critical leader in a position where the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) lacks depth. Crystal Palace averaged 1.46 points per game while he was on the field but fell to 1.20 without him. His absence this Saturday highlights a larger trend; since the last World Cup, many key players—including Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun, Anthony Robinson, and Sergiño Dest—have only played together once, in a 2-0 victory over Mexico in the Concacaf Nations League in March 2024.
This weekend’s farewell match against Germany is particularly significant. The U.S. last faced Germany in October 2023, where they suffered a 3-1 defeat following a first-half goal from Pulisic. Notably, that match featured several players who are now on the World Cup roster. McKennie reflected on the encounter, noting, “That game clearly showed their quality, but we were equally competitive. We had opportunities to win.”
Despite the challenges posed by Richards’s injury, McKennie remarked on the positive atmosphere within the U.S. camp, mentioning that Richards appeared to be progressing. “Everyone is excited,” he commented. “This is a monumental opportunity for many of us, and Chris is on the path to returning to full participation. We all trust his recovery as well as the coaching staff’s decisions.”
“Chris is a vital component of our group, contributing both energy and leadership. We’re all rooting for him to return and rejoin the team for the tournament,” McKennie added.
On Friday, Richards participated in practice, completing all drills that were open to media observers, signaling potential progress in his recovery.
