On the Pitch
On the Pitch
Open Cup
On the Pitch
Chris Richards ‘Feels Good’ Ahead of USMNT’s Group Stage Opener vs. Paraguay
The defender is fit to play the USMNT’s opening match on Friday in Los Angeles, California against Paraguay in FIFA World Cup 2026
IRVINE, Calif. – The U.S. has only hosted one FIFA World Cup on home soil before this summer, and so, the 26 players on head coach Mauricio Pochettino’s roster for the 2026 edition of the tournament don’t need to be told they are part of something special.
Some call it history, some call it special.
Others call it legacy-building.
“We want it to be where the next generation of kids and young players from various communities across the country have the exposure to the game at the highest level – to see the enjoyment that we have playing it, to see that just because you come from a small city doesn't mean that you can't play on the world’s biggest stage.”
Once Richards decided to focus on soccer, he rose up the ranks rapidly. He moved from Birmingham to FC Dallas then on to German Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich on a one-year loan – all within the span of about two years. Beginning in 2022, Richards made a home for himself in the English Premier League with his current club Crystal Palace, a team that weeks ago won the UEFA Conference League, the club’s first-ever major European trophy.
“I kind of like the standard of winning trophies now,” Richards said.
Behind one of the most inexperienced rosters in USMNT history, the team advanced out of the group stage, conceding only one goal. This young up-and-coming group came just one result shy of lifting the country’s eighth Gold Cup trophy.
“It just shows if you go into the summer with confidence, you can end up in the Finals,” Richards said. “That’s exactly what I want to bring to this team, and hopefully by the end of the summer, we’re lifting another trophy.”
Though he hopes to play Friday, Richards acknowledged that it’s up Pochettino whether or not he sees minutes. The center back has earned 36 caps with the U.S. Men’s National Team and scored three goals since his senior team debut in 2020.
Now, the two find themselves in a different World Cup, part of a center back group competing for a chance to defend the crest and kick off the team’s summer campaign with a win against feisty Paraguay.
“The competition that we have within this team is going to be the key to our success,” McKenzie said. “Going out each and every day and fighting for an opportunity to represent our national team is something that none of us take for granted.”
