ATLANTA – One player who has yet to join the U.S. Men’s National Team in training camp is center back Chris Richards, whose name was included in head coach Mauricio Pochettino’s 26-player roster for this summer, which was announced Tuesday, May 26.
On Thursday, U.S. Soccer confirmed the defender will arrive to Atlanta on Friday, May 29 to join training camp and undergo further assessment.
After tearing ligaments in his ankle, the center back for Crystal Palace stayed in Europe a little longer than some of his U.S. teammates who play club soccer overseas. Richards was an unused substitute as Crystal Palace defeated Rayo to win the UEFA Conference League and lift the club’s first-ever European trophy.
Richards was named to Pochettino’s roster but did not attend Tuesday’s event in New York City, appearing in a video in an address to the crowd. The 26-year-old has earned 36 caps with the national team, quickly rising to become a valuable defender and leader for the backline. Born in Birmingham, Richards is the second Alabama-born player to be selected for a U.S. World Cup roster.
The official roster is due to FIFA on June 1. Pochettino and his staff will have 24 hours before the first match against Paraguay to make a change in the event of an injury.
