United States men's national team defender Chris Richards has suffered two torn ligaments in his ankle, raising concerns about his availability for the upcoming World Cup. The injury occurred during Crystal Palace's match against Brentford last Sunday (May 17). Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner confirmed the extent of the injury on Thursday, stating that Richards will miss the team's final Premier League game against Arsenal this weekend.

Despite the injury, a source told ESPN that Richards is expected to be fit for the World Cup, which kicks off in three weeks. Richards has been a key player for the U.S. under coach Mauricio Pochettino and even captained the team in a recent friendly against Portugal. Pochettino is set to announce the U.S. roster for the World Cup on Tuesday (May 26).

Richards is currently undergoing intensive treatment to reduce swelling in his ankle, and his participation in the UEFA Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano next Wednesday remains uncertain. Glasner described the situation as "50/50" for Richards to play in the final.

The U.S. team will begin its World Cup campaign against Paraguay on June 12 in Inglewood, California. Richards' fitness will be closely monitored, especially given his previous absence from the 2022 World Cup due to injury. The U.S. will play warm-up matches against Senegal on May 31 and Germany on June 6.

The World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19 across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. You can listen to Fox's coverage of all 104 FIFA World Cup 2026 games LIVE and for FREE via iHeartRadio’s digital app and more than 100 broadcast stations nationwide!

Craig Stevens