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U.S. men's national team standout center back Chris Richards expects to be fully fit in time for next week's World Cup opener on June 12 against Group D opponent Paraguay.
USMNT fans across the country were left anxious last month when it emerged that the 26-year-old defensive cornerstone had torn two ligaments in his ankle, ruling him out for the rest of the Premier League season and the near future. He was absent for Crystal Palace's championship victory over Rayo Vallecano in the Europa Conference League final on May 27, as well as the opening of the USMNT's pre-World Cup training camp and an international friendly against Senegal the previous Sunday. USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino also confirmed Friday morning that Richards would not be available for the send-off friendly against Germany on Saturday.
Despite this, Richards stated confidently that he will be ready and available to make his World Cup debut on home turf, which will be crucial to any deep tournament run the USMNT hopes to achieve this summer.
"I feel good," Richards told Sports Illustrated on Friday afternoon. "When I first arrived in camp after two long days of travel, my ankle was a bit swollen, but I've been undergoing treatment almost 24 hours [a day], so I feel really good, and I'm getting prepared for the opener a week from today. I'm really excited about it."
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Concerns were raised when he was ruled out of Saturday's friendly; however, Richards has already returned to full-contact training. He was back on the pitch earlier this week, initially working individually on the sidelines before rejoining the full group for the first half of Friday's team session.
"They decided there was no rush for me to be back for the friendly, so we just took it at our own pace," he added.
Although Richards has been sidelined for fewer than three weeks and is widely regarded as the USMNT's top center back option, the key question remains whether his fitness will meet the demands of the tournament and Pochettino's expectations. The Argentine manager has until 24 hours before the first World Cup match to make an injury-related roster change and has yet to make a final call on the matter.
"We have, after that game [against Germany], the opportunity over the next few days to evaluate him and assess his ankle, his progression, and then make a decision," Pochettino said on Friday morning.
What Chris Richards Brings to the USMNT
Richards's current situation serves as a painful reminder of the past. Despite making his senior debut back in 2020, the center back missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after suffering a leg injury two months before the tournament.
Since then, however, he has established himself as a vital figure for the Stars and Stripes. Across 36 caps, he has demonstrated his composure on the ball, his aerial dominance, his ability to adapt fluidly within Pochettino's varied formations, and his threat in the opposition's box from set pieces.
Richards played a pivotal role in the USMNT's Concacaf Nations League triumph in 2023, breaking the deadlock in the 2–0 title win over Canada with a header from a corner kick. He also impressed at the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, netting two more goals from set pieces, including a header in the final against Mexico. He was named 2025 U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year in January, largely on the strength of his Gold Cup performances.
The Birmingham, Ala. native is also emerging as a leader off the pitch. "For me, it's just about being the person that people can lean on or look to for guidance, but also for strength," he says.
Given his injury history—past and present—Richards places great importance on his body's recovery. He has recently partnered with Stelo, which provides a small biosensor worn on the back of his right arm that continuously monitors his glucose levels and syncs with his phone, delivering real-time data to help him optimize refueling for recovery and energy management after training sessions.
Although Pochettino has named four other center backs to his official World Cup roster, he will need a fully healthy and fit Richards if he is to have any chance of realizing his ambitious goal of a historic semifinal run this summer.