It wasn’t the worst news the US men’s national team could have conjured up. But it wasn’t very far off either.
After center back Chris Richards sat out Crystal Palace’s training session Thursday, manager Oliver Glasner told reporters the USMNT stalwart “tore two ligaments in his ankle” and is “50/50” to play in the Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano next Wednesday.
A US Soccer spokesman declined comment on Richards’ status.
Richards injured his ankle in the second half of Palace’s 2-2 draw against Brentford over the weekend, but finished the game before being helped off the pitch. Glasner initially called it a twisted ankle, while expressing hope Richards could return this week. Evidently, the diagnosis has gotten worse.
United States defender Chris Richards, front, pursues the ball with Australia forward Nicholas D’Agostino in the second half of an international friendly soccer match Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, in Commerce City, Colo. AP“Chris will miss the Arsenal game [this weekend], and it’s now 50/50 for him and for us if he can play in the final in Leipzig,” Glasner said. “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.
“He is in from sunrise until sunset having treatments and everything we can do that reduces the swelling. And of course we have a great medical department, so we will give it our best and he will give his best — and then let’s see if we can get it done.”
It’s worth noting Glasner is not a native English speaker, so there is some wiggle room in terms of what exactly he means by torn ligaments. Still, with the possible exception of Christian Pulisic, Richards is the player the U.S. can least afford to lose.
Not only is he the most dependable American center back, but the position as a whole is one at which the team lacks depth.
Tim Ream and Mark McKenzie are seen as the two most likely starters alongside Richards if the U.S. plays with three at the back.
To have Richards at anything less than full health would severely hamper the Americans’ chances of making a run at a home World Cup. Making matters more urgent is that Mauricio Pochettino is set to name the roster on Tuesday, which might be before there is full clarity on the situation.
Richards is important enough that even if he is at risk of missing time in the World Cup, Pochettino could justifiably put him on the team anyway. His potential absence would have a major effect both on how the United States lines up, as well as its overall defensive stability, which is shaky to begin with.
Crystal Palace’s Chris Richards, bottom, reacts after after going down with an injury during the Premier League soccer match between Brentford and Crystal Palace, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in London. John Walton/PA via APIf Richards is unable to play, it could be Auston Trusty, Miles Robinson or even Tristan Blackmon getting a chance.
Though Noahkai Banks’ inclusion was heavily discussed going into the March window, his decision to decline a call-up in that window to keep the option open to play for Germany, coupled with falling out of Augsburg’s lineup, seems to make a World Cup call-up highly unlikely.
None of those options are anywhere near as trusted as Richards, who has played north of 4,000 minutes this season for Palace and started nearly every week he’s been healthy.
There is still plenty of time before the U.S. kicks off its World Cup campaign against Paraguay on June 12, which should help. Richards’ camp was already going to be affected because Palace are in a European final that will be played the same day the U.S. begins training.
Now — assuming he is named to the 26-man roster — there is another wrench in the mix.
