05/30/26 10:09:00
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05/30 10:07 CDT Chris Richards is uncertain for the US in World Cup and will
miss Senegal friendly
Chris Richards is uncertain for the US in World Cup and will miss Senegal
friendly
By RONALD BLUM
AP Sports Writer
FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (AP) --- Top American defender Chris Richards is uncertain
for the World Cup because of an ankle injury and will miss Sunday's friendly
against Senegal.
Richards tore two left ankle ligaments while playing for Crystal Palace on May
17. He arrived at U.S. training camp Friday and was assessed by the medical and
performance staff.
"We need to see," U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said Saturday. "The next few
days are going to be key, to see the possibility to be ready or not on the
World Cup."
Pochettino said he has been anxious to learn whether Richards will be available
and repeatedly inquired of Richards' status with Jess Prez, his first
assistant coach.
"I was asking ... 100 times, what do you think?" Pochettino said. "The answer
was wait, wait, wait, wait."
Twenty-six man rosters must be submitted to FIFA by June 1 and the U.S. can
replace injured players until June 11.
Central defender is among the least-deep positions in the U.S. player pool and
Richards is considered the best American at that position. Captain Tim Ream,
Auston Trusty, Mark McKenzie and Miles Robinson are other central defenders on
the roster.
Vancouver's Tristan Blackmon and Toronto's Walker Zimmerman, a member of the
2022 U.S. World Cup team, would be possible replacements.
Richards, 26, missed the 2022 World Cup because of a hamstring injury. He was
going to remain in Fayetteville and not travel to Charlotte, North Carolina,
for Sunday's game.
"I think he needs to keep doing his rehab and I think it's much better to stay
here and plan to train and re-evaluate next week how he is," Pochettino said.
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
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