Just five days before the United States announces its 2026 World Cup roster, the team has suffered a significant setback. Star defender Chris Richards has torn two ligaments in his ankle, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner announced Thursday. The injury occurred during Palace's draw with Brentford on Sunday.
The 26-year-old center back from Birmingham, Alabama, recently captained the U.S. in a friendly against Portugal under coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Glasner ruled Richards out of this weekend's Premier League finale against Arsenal but is hopeful for the UEFA Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano. He called it a "50/50" chance. The Americans begin their home World Cup campaign against Paraguay on June 12.