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Chris Richards was fit enough to be named in Crystal Palace's squad for the UEFA Europa Conference League final on Wednesday, but the USMNT standout center back was omitted from manager Oliver Glasner's starting eleven and did not feature in the trophy-deciding contest.
Separated from his fellow Americans — the other 25 of whom assembled in New York City on Tuesday for the official announcement of the 26-man U.S. World Cup squad — Richards took his place on the substitutes' bench in Leipzig, Germany, watching as the Eagles claimed victory over La Liga side Rayo Vallecano in the third-tier European showpiece. Palace secured a 1–0 triumph and some well-deserved silverware, marking the club's first-ever European honor.
Richards is typically a cornerstone of Palace's defensive unit, having started 31 Premier League games this season; however, he sustained two torn ligaments in his ankle the previous week during a league fixture against Brentford, hampering his ability to contribute to the Conference League final and casting doubt over his fitness ahead of the World Cup.
"Chris is okay, but he's not at 100%," Glasner told TNT Sports before the final. "We decided after I spoke with him this morning that it's better to keep him on the bench."
Richards is arguably the most crucial figure in the USMNT's World Cup ambitions this summer, providing an elite defensive presence after cementing himself as a genuine Premier League-caliber defender over the last two seasons.
Throughout 2025, USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino has also leaned heavily on Richards, who played a pivotal role as a set-piece threat during the run to the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup final — the last competitive fixture before next month's World Cup.
Pochettino offered no updates on Richards's injury situation on Tuesday and intended to wait until after the Conference League final "to see if he plays and then decide [what needs to be done]."
It is an encouraging sign, however, that Richards was at least included in the squad for Wednesday's title match. He was also reportedly present at Palace's training sessions earlier this week.
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The USMNT kicked off World Cup training camp on Wednesday at the newly opened national training facility in Atlanta, where they will build their foundations before facing Senegal in their first pre-World Cup friendly in Charlotte on Sunday.
Richards is expected to travel to the U.S. shortly after the Conference League final and has not been ruled out of Sunday's friendly or the send-off match against Germany on June 6.
Should he experience a setback in his recovery and be unable to participate at the World Cup, the USMNT has until 8:59 p.m. ET/5:59 p.m. PT on June 11 to finalize any roster adjustments before the 26-man group is locked in for the duration of the tournament.