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United States Men’s National Team defender Chris Richards is in a race against time to recover for the upcoming Conference League final, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner confirmed on Thursday. The American centre-back picked up an ankle injury during a recent fixture against Brentford, putting his preparation for the World Cup in jeopardy.

What happened?

The Crystal Palace defender sustained the injury over the weekend, and medical evaluations revealed that he has torn two ligaments in his ankle. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Glasner confirmed that Richards has been ruled out of the club’s final Premier League match against champions Arsenal. However, the manager added that it remains uncertain whether Richards will be fit in time for the Conference League final.

Crystal Palace are set to face Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig in what will be the club’s maiden opportunity to claim a European title.

What was said

Glasner explained that Richards’ participation will depend on how quickly the swelling in his ankle subsides, adding that the club’s medical team is doing everything possible to speed up his recovery.

“Chris will also miss the Arsenal match, and right now it’s 50/50 for him and for us whether he can play in the final in Leipzig,” Glasner stated. “He tore two ligaments in his ankle. It’s stable but still quite swollen, and we need to manage that. He needs to get back on the pitch to be ready, and that takes time.”

He added, “Chris is spending every hour from sunrise to sunset undergoing treatment and doing everything possible to bring the swelling down. We have an excellent medical department, and both he and the staff are giving their all. Let’s see if we can make it happen.”

The USMNT angle

An extended absence for Richards would be a major setback for the USMNT, as he is one of the key defenders in Mauricio Pochettino’s preferred starting lineup. Since Pochettino’s appointment, Richards has established himself as a crucial figure, both for his defensive reliability and his leadership on and off the pitch.

Fortunately, the timeline offers some hope. Even if Richards misses the remainder of Palace’s season, he has a window to recover before the World Cup. The USMNT are scheduled to play two friendlies ahead of the tournament — the first against Senegal on May 31 and the second versus Germany on June 6. The United States will open their World Cup campaign against Paraguay on June 12, giving Richards 27 days between the injury and the team’s first match of the tournament.

What comes next?

Pochettino is set to announce his USMNT squad on Tuesday, May 26, with players due to report to Atlanta the following day for the beginning of the pre-World Cup training camp. Richards is not expected to join the camp until after the Conference League final, scheduled for May 27.