The U.S. Men’s National Team finished the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup with silver medals and a lot of lessons learned. All of which the Americans hope to carry into next summer when the U.S. will co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“I hope that throughout this tournament we made everybody proud,” defender Chris Richards said. “And next year, I know we’ll definitely make everybody proud.”
Richards started at center back for seven of the eight USMNT matches this summer, including every match in the Gold Cup. He said this summer has been imperative for him to understand the expectations set by head coach Mauricio Pochettino and his staff.
When Pochettino took the coaching reins in September 2024, Richards said he was a bit intimidated knowing that the staff had coached some of the best players in the world. With the extended time together this summer, Richards feels comfortable with the coaches, or as he called them, “teddy bears.”
The coaching staff feels more comfortable, too. The Gold Cup, with a group stage followed by a knockout stage, mirrors the format they’ll see in a year’s time. Pochettino, who is coaching internationally for the first time in his storied career, said it was important practice for him and his staff to experience.
The USA also got valuable time developing set pieces, which could be a crucial part of next summer’s World Cup. The Americans scored twice off set pieces in the knockout round of the Gold Cup, both on a connection between Richards and midfielder Sebastian Berhalter.
As Richards heads back to his club, Crystal Palace, he leaves having emerged as one of the leaders of the National Team. Richards came into camp in June intending to grow as a vocal leader, especially as many on the roster hadn’t played in a tournament setting. It caught the attention of captain and fellow center back, Tim Ream, who commended Richards' recent leadership.
Richards previously had a more supporting role in the locker room, with other veterans leading the way, but Ream watched the 25-year-old step up in ensuring teammates are in the right positions on the field and doing the right things off the field.
