IRVINE, Calif. – United States defender Chris Richards actively participated in Monday’s open training session at Great Park, gearing up for the Americans’ opening World Cup match scheduled for Friday.
This session, attended by 5,500 fans, marked the first time Richards completed a full practice with his teammates since attending the USMNT’s World Cup roster announcement in New York on May 26.
During the 45-minute training, the team engaged in light warm-ups followed by a series of small-sided games, with Richards demonstrating no signs of discomfort while running and making cuts.
“Today was [Richards’] first time fully with the team,” U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino told reporters. “It’s great to have nearly everyone available for selection for the [Paraguay] game.”
The Crystal Palace defender sustained an ankle injury on May 17 during a match against Brentford. Palace manager Oliver Glasner later stated that Richards had torn two ligaments. He remained an unused substitute in Palace’s 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano in the UEFA Conference League final.
Richards missed both of the USMNT’s pre-World Cup friendlies against Senegal on May 31 (a 3-2 victory) and Germany on June 6 (a 2-1 loss) in order to focus on his recovery. He is racing to regain full fitness for the USMNT’s inaugural World Cup match against Paraguay this Friday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Including Richards in the starting lineup could significantly strengthen a backline that has struggled with defensive transitions and has shown tendencies for individual errors in the recent friendlies. U.S. captain and defender Tim Ream emphasized the need for defensive improvements.
“There’s always room for improvement,” Ream stated at a press conference before training on Monday. “We’re not pleased with the goals we’ve conceded. That’s a major focus for us. Enhancing our connections and communication can address many issues.”
“We’ll review video over the next few days to pinpoint areas where we can tighten up and enhance our cohesion. If you look back at the Germany game, there were signs of improvement. We’ll address those areas to ensure everything is more secure moving forward.”
Midfielder Tyler Adams participated in lighter activities, focusing on gym workouts due to what a U.S. Soccer spokesperson referred to as “load management.”