USMNT defender Chris Richards tears ankle ligaments, World Cup status uncertain

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner announced Thursday that United States men’s national team center-back Chris Richards has suffered two torn ligaments in his ankle, casting doubt on his availability for the upcoming World Cup.

The club reported that Richards experienced discomfort late in last weekend’s match against Brentford, where he came on as a substitute in the 61st minute.

“Chris will miss the Arsenal game [on Sunday] as well, and it’s now 50/50 for him and for us if he can play in the [Conference League] final [on Wednesday] in Leipzig,” Glasner said Thursday. “He tore two ligaments in his ankle. I think it’s stable, but quite swollen, and we have to deal with the swelling. He has to get back on the pitch to be available, and it takes time.”

Richards has been a consistent presence for Palace this season, logging 2,827 league minutes and making 45 starts across all competitions. After Sunday’s match against Premier League champions Arsenal, Palace faces Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday in the Conference League final, the club’s first European final in 27 years.

“He is in from sunrise until sunset having treatments and everything we can do that reduces the swelling,” Glasner added, “and of course we have a great medical department, so we will give our best and he will give his best – and then let’s see if we can get it done.”

Richards holds even greater importance for USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino’s World Cup plans, with the tournament beginning in three weeks. The 26-year-old has established himself as arguably the only guaranteed starting center-back in the US player pool, earning 13 caps since the start of 2025 and being named the program’s men’s player of the year in January.

Center-back remains a thin position for the US. Pochettino has given only four center-backs at least 500 minutes over his 24 matches in charge. Tim Ream, Miles Robinson, and Mark McKenzie are the other regulars in recent months, while Auston Trusty earned praise from Pochettino after playing 89 minutes against Portugal in March.

The program still awaits an international decision from Augsburg defender Noahkai Banks. The 19-year-old Hawaiian is weighing a choice between the US and Germany. Banks has yet to debut for either senior team but has represented the US at youth levels.

Pochettino will announce his squad on May 26. Richards was always expected to arrive slightly late to World Cup camp due to Palace’s Conference League run, with most players due to report as early as Monday.

The US will play final pre-tournament friendlies against Senegal on May 31 and Germany on June 6, putting Richards in a race against time to be available for either match. The co-hosts open their group stage against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles.