Will Alabama’s Chris Richards play in the 2026 World Cup? Here’s the latest

The wait is almost over. With the 2026 World Cup opener just five days away, there is newfound optimism regarding Birmingham native Chris Richards and his availability for the U.S. Men’s National Team.

Richards Returning to Form

In a promising development, Richards was a full participant in team practice for the first time since the roster announcement. The defender moved through drills with no visible signs of pain, according to ESPN. U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino expressed encouragement, noting that it is great to have nearly the entire squad ready for selection ahead of the Paraguay match.

Richards earned his spot on the 26-man World Cup roster despite a challenging finish to his club season with Crystal Palace, where he was sidelined by an ankle injury that forced him to miss the end of the Premier League schedule and a UEFA championship appearance.

Preparation and Looking Ahead

The USMNT enters the tournament following a pair of high-stakes friendly matches against Senegal and Germany. The Americans split those contests, most recently falling 2-1 to Germany in Chicago.

The road to glory officially begins this Friday. The U.S. will face Paraguay at 8 p.m. at SoFi Stadium, with coverage airing on Fox. For 205focus.com, this marks the start of an intense push as the team looks to make a deep run on home soil.