With well under a month to go until the FIFA World Cup kicks off in Mexico City, Mauricio Pochettino’s U.S. Men’s National Team has been dealt yet another major injury blow.
Arguably the side’s best defender, Crystal Palace’s Chris Richards, has torn two ligaments in his ankle, as per Palace boss Oliver Glasner.
The injury seems to have stemmed from Palace’s 2-2 draw against Brentford on Sunday, with Glasner stating that Richards will be unavailable for their Premier League finale against Arsenal on Sunday, while his status for their upcoming UEFA Conference League Final versus Rayo Vallecano the following Wednesday remains up in the air.
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“Chris will miss the Arsenal game as well, and it’s now 50/50 for him and for us if he can play in the Final in Leipzig,” Glasner said, via ESPN.
“He tore two ligaments in his ankle. I think it’s stable, but quite swollen, and we have to deal with the swelling. He has to get back on the pitch to be available, and it takes time.
“He is in from sunrise until sunset having treatments and everything we can do that reduces the swelling, and of course we have a great medical department, so we will give our best and he will give his best — and then let’s see if we can get it done.”
This is not only a major blow for Palace, who will soon have the chance to lift a major European trophy for the first time in the club’s history, but also for Pochettino and Co. with Richards a regular starter and occasional captain for the USMNT since he took charge.
What this means for Richards’ World Cup availability remains to be seen, but it represents yet more mad news on the injury front for a USMNT side which has recently been beset with injuries.
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Goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann was recently ruled out after breaking his neck in a Serie B game for Cesena, while defender John Tolkin has missed Holstein Kiel’s last five 2. Bundesliga games with an MCL injury.
In midfield, Atletico Madrid’s Johnny Cardoso appears out of contention after suffering “a high-grade sprain” in his ankle which required surgery, while Lyon’s Tanner Tessmann remains a question mark, having suffered a late-season muscle strain which left him sidelined for their final three Ligue 1 games.
And the news doesn’t get much better up front, with Derby County’s Patrick Agyemang out of the World Cup after suffering an Achilles tendon injury that required surgery, while Toronto FC’s Josh Sargent has missed their last three games with a thigh issue.
Pochettino is expected to announce his final World Cup roster in just five days, and not only may he be forced to do without numerous stars, but arguably the biggest star, Christian Pulisic, is vastly underperforming heading into the summer.
The 27-year-old has gone without a goal for club or country in 2026, despite having led AC Milan in goals last season and up until his drought began this season. The Pennsylvanian is not only dealing with a lack of goals, but fitness, injury, and general form issues have all plagued his season – hardly the ideal preparation for a home World Cup.
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