When Will Chris Richards Return From Injury for the USMNT?

A few weeks ago, USMNT fans were heavily concerned to hear of an ankle injury to Chris Richards, who is considered the best defender in the USMNT.

The American center back was injured and missed Crystal Palace's last two matches this season, including the UEFA Conference League Final against Rayo Vallecano. Richards was on the bench against Rayo Vallecano last week.

Despite Richards being on the bench and available to play, he did not get minutes. After Crystal Palace won the Conference League, Richards joined the rest of the USMNT for camp.

Richards is involved with the USMNT camp to prepare for the World Cup, but he is not in the matchday sqaud for the friendly match today against Senegal since he is still not 100% match fit.

Chris Richards Potential Return Date

Chris Richards recovery from his ankle injury can put him at risk of missing the USMNT's first match in the World Cup.

USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino was asked about Richards' injury status and said the next few days are crucial to see whether the defender will be returning soon.

Richards is reportedly going to remain at the training facility outside Atlanta and do rehab instead of being with the team today in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the Bank of America Stadium.

Richards is likely to be back on time for the USMNT's first group stage match against Paraguay on June 12.

Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved

This story was originally published May 31, 2026 at 3:33 PM.