Chris Richards will miss the World Cup due to a lingering hamstring injury, he announced on Instagram on Tuesday.
Richards has not played for Crystal Palace since August due to the injury, and hasn’t played for the U.S. national team since January.
Crystal Palace head coach Patrick Vieira said over the weekend that Richards had yet to resume team training, putting his status for the World Cup in serious doubt with just two weeks remaining until the USMNT’s first match.
On Tuesday, one day before the USMNT announces its World Cup roster, Richards confirmed himself that he will not be going to Qatar.
“Gutted that this injury has ruled me out of the World Cup but I know that the boys will go crazy regardless,” he said. “I’ll be rooting for y’all the whole way. Go out and make history.”
USMNT center back options
Richards was almost certain to make the roster had he been healthy, and was a candidate to start next to Walker Zimmerman at central defense.
The 22-year-old joins Miles Robinson as World Cup roster locks who will be forced out of the tournament with injury. Robinson tore his Achilles in a game with Atlanta United in May.
His absence makes it more likely that either Aaron Long or Cameron Carter-Vickers will partner Zimmerman when the USMNT begins the World Cup on November 21 against Wales.
With Richards out another defensive roster spot will also open up, which could be filled by Fulham’s Tim Ream.
Ream hasn’t played for the USMNT since September 2021, but is in the midst of a stellar campaign in the Premier League. According to a report from the U.S. Fútbol Podcast, Ream has been selected for the World Cup squad in Richards’ place.
