Player Bio - Chris Richards
NATIONAL TEAM HIGHLIGHTS
- Named 2025 U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year after playing in 12 USMNT matches during the calendar year.
- Named to the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI after starting all six matches and anchoring the USMNT backline, scoring against Mexico in the tournament final.
- Scored in the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Final vs. Canada on June 18, 2023, in Las Vegas, contributing to the 2-0 victory that clinched the USMNT's second consecutive title.
2026 FIFA WORLD CUP CYCLE
- Scored in the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Final vs. Canada on June 18, 2023, in Las Vegas, helping secure a 2-0 victory and the USMNT's second straight title.
- Partnered Tim Ream at center back in the 2-0 Nations League Final victory over Mexico on March 24, 2024, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, anchoring a third consecutive championship-winning defense.
- Started all three Copa America 2024 group-stage matches: the 2-0 win vs. Bolivia (June 23, Arlington), the match vs. Panama (June 27, Atlanta), and the match vs. Uruguay (July 1, Kansas City).
- Started all six matches during the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup (June 15 - July 6), earning Best XI honors as the USMNT reached the final.
- Started 11 of 12 available USMNT matches during the 2025 calendar year, cementing his status as the first-choice center back alongside Tim Ream.
- Featured in fall 2025 friendlies vs. South Korea (Sept. 6), Japan (Sept. 9), Ecuador (Oct. 10), Australia (Oct. 14), and Paraguay (Nov. 19).
- Named to the March 2026 squad for World Cup preparation friendlies; started vs. Portugal (March 31) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
CLUB HIGHLIGHTS
- Joined Crystal Palace from Bayern Munich, starting 32 matches in the 2024-25 season with one goal and an assist.
- Won the FA Cup and Community Shield with Crystal Palace in 2025.
- Made 10 first-team appearances for Bayern Munich (2019-2022) after progressing through the club's academy.
- Completed two loan spells at TSG Hoffenheim from Bayern Munich, making 34 appearances across both stints; scored his first Bundesliga goal in December 2021 and recorded his first assist in October 2020.
- Moved to Houston and then Dallas at age 16 to pursue professional development, initially living with a host family more than 600 miles from home in Alabama.
PERSONAL
- Son of Ken Richards, a former college basketball player at Birmingham-Southern who also played semi-professionally abroad, and Carrie Richards, a paralegal; has two younger siblings, Mackenzie and Christian.
- Began playing soccer at age three in day care gym sessions in Birmingham, Ala., before developing through local youth programs.
- Joined the ownership group of Birmingham Legion FC in February 2025, maintaining a strong connection to his Alabama roots.
- Worked to open first FIFA Arena in the country in partnership with U.S. Soccer Federation and Birmingham Legion FC in his local community.
