Birmingham native Chris Richards declares himself ‘ready’ for the World Cup
Despite being announced for the 2026 World Cup roster, Richards has been injured since mid-May with an ankle injury suffered with his club team, Crystal Palace.
Olivia Bennett 
As the U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team prepares for the 2026 World Cup, one of the most critical questions has been the health status of Birmingham native Chris Richards. With just 48 hours to go before the tournament kicks off, the suspense is clearing: Richards has declared himself ready for action.
Ready for the Opener
Richards confirmed to the media on Wednesday that he is prepared to suit up for Friday night's opener against Paraguay. The matchup is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on Fox. Following a week of full participation in team practices, Richards is not expected to face a minutes restriction.
I’m ready to go, Richards stated. It’s the World Cup. I was going to make myself ready regardless. If there’s any time to sacrifice yourself, it’s now. I know I’m able to play Friday, but I don’t make those decisions. He further emphasized that starting in the opener would not put the remainder of his tournament at risk.
Overcoming the Injury
The path to the World Cup hasn't been easy for the Crystal Palace defender. Richards was sidelined in mid-May with a significant ankle injury involving two damaged ligaments, which forced him to cut his club season short and miss international friendlies against Senegal and Germany.
Despite the setback, the Birmingham product remained focused on his recovery. Once I got the diagnosis, I was like, alright, how do I get ready for the game against Paraguay? Richards said. That’s what I’ve been doing 24-hours-a-day. Recovery, whatever it takes to be available for the first game.
Fans can catch Richards and the USMNT as they take on Paraguay on June 12 at 8 p.m. inside SoFi Stadium, live on Fox.
