USMNT Defender Chris Richards Sidelined for Senegal Friendly Due to Ankle Injury

United States center back Chris Richards will miss the pre-tournament preparation match against Senegal on May 31, 2026, in Charlotte, according to head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

The 26-year-old defender is recovering from ligament damage in his left ankle, an injury he sustained on May 17, 2026, while playing for his English Premier League club, Crystal Palace.

The absence of Richards, regarded as a primary defensive option for the U.S. Squad, comes at a critical juncture as the team prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The United States is scheduled to play its opening match of the tournament against Paraguay on June 12, 2026.

Richards was healthy enough to be included in the matchday squad for Crystal Palace’s UEFA Conference League final against Spain’s Rayo Vallecano on May 27, 2026. Although Palace won the final, Richards did not enter the game and remained on the bench.

The Birmingham, Alabama native traveled to the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Fayetteville, Georgia, arriving on the morning of May 29, 2026. Despite his arrival, he did not participate in training sessions with the rest of the squad later that day.

Pochettino Monitors Recovery Progress

During a press conference on May 30, 2026, at the team’s facility outside Atlanta, Mauricio Pochettino explained the decision to keep Richards out of the upcoming fixture in North Carolina.

We decided with Chris, with the medical and the performance staff, to not to be part of the group that is going to be in North Carolina playing tomorrow against Senegal. I think he needs to keep doing his rehab, and I think it’s much better to stay here and plan to train and reevaluate next week how he is.

Mauricio Pochettino

Pochettino indicated that he has been in constant communication with his top assistant coach, Jesús Pérez, regarding the defender’s status since his arrival on May 29, 2026.

The head coach noted that he had asked Pérez 100 times for an update, but was told it was too early to make a definitive determination. Pochettino stated that the next few days will be the deciding factor in whether Richards is fit for the World Cup.

Roster Flexibility and Options

The timing of the injury creates a potential roster complication, though FIFA regulations provide the U.S. Team with some flexibility. While Pochettino named his initial 26-player squad on May 26, 2026, the final rosters for the 48 participating teams are not due to FIFA until June 1, 2026.

Even after the final roster submission, the rules allow Pochettino to replace an injured player up to 24 hours before the team’s first match on June 12, 2026.

Richards brings significant experience to the backline, having previously played for high-profile clubs including Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur. His ability to anchor the defense will be a key factor in the U.S. Strategy for the group stage.

The U.S. Team will proceed with the Senegal match in Charlotte without Richards, while the medical staff continues rehabilitation efforts in Georgia to determine if the center back can be integrated back into the squad before the tournament begins.