Injuries Loom Ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup for USMNT

The U.S. men’s national soccer team is facing significant injury concerns even before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off.

Chris Richards, a 26-year-old defender regarded as one of the USMNT’s top players, will not participate in the upcoming friendly match against Senegal this Sunday.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino disclosed that Richards is dealing with an ankle injury, which prevented him from playing in the last two matches of the season for Crystal Palace. Unfortunately, the timeline for his return is currently unclear, leaving fans with uncertain feelings.

Pochettino stated, “I think he needs to continue his rehabilitation. It’s better for him to stay here to train and plan.” The “here” refers to the training facility in Atlanta, where Richards will remain while his teammates head to Charlotte for the match against Senegal.

In a surprising move, Diego Luna, who featured in Nike’s World Cup promotional ad, has been excluded from the USMNT roster.

Richards missed last week’s announcement of the 26-man squad in New York City, opting to stay with Crystal Palace for a final game in Germany, and instead sent a video message to the team. Despite appearing as a substitute, he didn’t play during that match.

He has yet to train with the USMNT, and Pochettino doesn’t seem optimistic about his readiness for the first game against Paraguay in Los Angeles on June 12.

Assistant coach Jesus Pérez shared his frustration over scheduling, saying, “I’ve been asking since yesterday when he would arrive. I asked him a hundred times what he thinks about the formation, but the answer has always been ‘wait, wait, wait.’ It’s just too early to tell.” The coming days will be crucial in determining his World Cup readiness.

While Richards is not likely to be removed from the roster, FIFA has stipulated that all teams must finalize their rosters by June, with allowance for injury-related changes up to 24 hours before their first game.

The USMNT will seek to refine their teamwork and skills against Senegal, and they have another friendly against Germany lined up before their Group D schedule begins in Los Angeles.

Following the Paraguay match, the team will face Australia in Seattle on June 19 and Turquier in their final group match on June 25 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

A lingering question exists regarding the center-back position, which is crucial for the team’s strategy. While Richards was anticipated to be a starter, the depth at that position does raise some concerns, especially after Pochettino adjusted his lineup for a stronger defense.

Richards was expected to play in every match for the U.S. leading up to the tournament, so it will be intriguing to see how his recovery progresses before the first game on June 12.