Chris Richards Misses June 1 Senegal Friendly as Ankle Injury Clouds USMNT World Cup Opener
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 30
Chris Richards Misses June 1 Senegal Friendly as Ankle Injury Clouds USMNT World Cup Opener
11 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 30
Chris Richards will stay at the USMNT's Atlanta training base instead of traveling to Charlotte for Sunday's friendly against Senegal, leaving the U.S. without a projected starting center back less than two weeks before June 12.
An ankle injury has kept the 26-year-old out of Crystal Palace's last two matches, and Mauricio Pochettino said Richards still needs rehab and has not yet trained with the national team.
Pochettino said the next few days will determine whether Richards can be ready for the World Cup opener against Paraguay, signaling no clear return timetable.
FIFA requires 26-man squads to be finalized in June, though injury replacements are allowed until 24 hours before a team's first match.
The uncertainty leaves a major hole in a defense where Richards was expected to start every game, with the U.S. also scheduled to face Germany before Group D matches against Paraguay, Australia and Türkiye.
Will another major injury deny Chris Richards his dream of playing in a home World Cup?
How can the USMNT solve its defensive crisis with its most irreplaceable player sidelined before the tournament?