US Defender Chris Richards Suffers Ankle Ligament Tear Ahead of World Cup

Just weeks before the start of the FIFA World Cup , the United States national team has been handed a worrying setback after defender Chris Richards suffered ligament damage in his ankle while playing for Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

The 26 year old center back picked up the injury during Palace’s dramatic 2 2 draw against Brentford F.C. last weekend. Richards went down in the second half and was later substituted, immediately raising concerns over his fitness ahead of football’s biggest tournament.

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner confirmed on Thursday that the American defender had torn two ligaments in his ankle . While the injury is reportedly stable, significant swelling remains, making his recovery uncertain.

Glasner admitted the situation has now become “a race against time,” with Richards already ruled out of Palace’s final Premier League match of the season against Arsenal F.C. . The defender is also considered only a 50 50 chance for the UEFA Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano next week in Leipzig.

According to Glasner, Richards is undergoing intensive treatment daily in an effort to speed up his recovery. “He is in from sunrise until sunset having treatments,” the Palace manager said, underlining the seriousness of the situation and the urgency surrounding his comeback attempt.

The injury could not have come at a worse time for the United States, with head coach Mauricio Pochettino expected to announce the national team’s World Cup squad in the coming days. Richards has become an important figure in the American defense, bringing composure, physicality, and European top flight experience to the backline.

The World Cup, hosted jointly by the United States , Mexico , and Canada , begins on June 11 . The Americans open their campaign against Paraguay on June 12 in Inglewood, California.

With little time left before kickoff, the US camp will now anxiously wait for positive updates on Richards’ recovery. Whether he can regain match fitness in time may prove crucial to America’s hopes of making a strong start on home soil.