Richards Returns to Practice
Injured US Defender Chris Richards Completes Full Practice, Boosting World Cup Availability
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Chris Richards completed his first full team practice with the US Men's National Team on Monday, a major step in his race to be fit for the World Cup opener against Paraguay on June 12, AP reported. The 26-year-old central defender tore two ligaments in his left ankle on May 17 while playing for Crystal Palace, and the Americans have until Thursday evening to replace him if he cannot go.
Richards trained alongside his teammates in front of about 5,500 fans at Great Park in Orange County, California, with no apparent issues, AP noted. The session marked the first time he had trained fully with the squad since the injury, having missed both US pre-tournament friendlies.
A Six-Week Injury Battle to Reach This Point
Richards hurt his ankle in Crystal Palace's 2-2 draw against Brentford on May 17. He finished the match on what he described as "pure adrenaline" before he could not walk without help afterward, AP reported. Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner confirmed he had torn two ligaments and initially called his status "50/50."
Despite the injury, USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino included Richards on the 26-man World Cup roster on May 26. Richards was named as an unused substitute when Crystal Palace won the UEFA Conference League final on May 27 but did not play. He then sat out both US friendlies — a 3-2 win over Senegal and the send-off match against Germany — as medical staff carefully managed his return.
Why Richards Is Irreplaceable in the US Defense
Richards is considered the best central defender in a thin US player pool. He made 49 appearances for Crystal Palace in the 2025-26 season — the most by any American in the Premier League, according to AP. Analysts describe him as the team's defensive "anchor," combining aerial strength with sharp one-on-one defending that no other US option can match.
The main alternatives at center back are Mark McKenzie and 38-year-old captain Tim Ream. Richards also missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with a hamstring injury, making his availability for this home tournament especially meaningful. His absence against Paraguay would force Pochettino into difficult tactical choices with the tournament just days away.
Pochettino Cautious Despite Monday's Encouraging Session
Coach Pochettino has been careful not to declare Richards fit. On June 5, he said the recovery timelines were "lengthening" and admitted it "angers me a bit," while stressing that "the advice of the medical area" kept Richards out of both friendlies even when the player felt ready, AP reported. Teammate Weston McKennie was more upbeat, saying, "Everyone trusts his body and what he feels."
Richards himself said, "I feel good... I'll be ready by the opener." Monday's full practice was the strongest signal yet that he could be available. Still, Pochettino has until Thursday evening — 24 hours before the June 12 kickoff at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood — to make a final call under FIFA replacement rules.
Home World Cup Stakes Raise the Pressure on Every Decision
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first hosted in North America since 1994 and the first with a 48-team field. For the US, it is seen as a "defining moment" for its current generation of players. Over 5,500 fans showed up to a Monday morning practice session in Irvine, showing just how high public interest has climbed in the final days before kickoff, AP noted.
The US faces Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey in Group D. Goals conceded in the 3-2 friendly win over Senegal were called "preventable mistakes" by reporters covering the camp — the kind of errors Richards' presence might have stopped. A final decision on his status is expected by Thursday, with the nation watching closely.
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