Richards ruled out as USA face Germany in final World Cup warm-up at Soldier Field

Chris Richards will not feature when the United States face Germany at Soldier Field on Saturday in their final warm-up before the 2026 World Cup, coach Mauricio Pochettino confirmed at his pre-match press conference in Chicago on Friday. The centre back damaged ligaments in his left ankle last month and, despite returning to training, Pochettino said he is “not ready to compete, to play.”

The timing is far from ideal for the tournament co-hosts, who open their World Cup campaign on 12 June in Los Angeles against Paraguay. Richards is considered the most important defender in the U.S. squad, and his absence comes after a defensive display against Senegal on Sunday that raised its own questions. The Americans won that exhibition 3-2, but both goals conceded were preventable, with the home side allowing ten shots — four on target — over the course of the match.

The Germans represent a stern measuring stick. The last time these sides met, in October 2023 in Connecticut, the U.S. were beaten 3-1. Christian Pulisic gave the Americans a 1-0 lead with a long-range strike before İlkay Gündoğan, Niclas Füllkrug and Jamal Musiala turned the game around. Of that German trio, only Musiala remains in Julian Nagelsmann’s squad for Saturday’s match and the World Cup.

Midfielder Weston McKennie, who played 75 minutes in that 2023 defeat, acknowledged Germany’s quality while insisting the U.S. were competitive that day. “I think that game showed, obviously, the quality that they have,” McKennie said after Friday’s training session. “But also the quality that we have as well. We had the potential to win that game as well.”

The broader context adds weight to the occasion. The U.S. were outscored 7-2 in March friendlies against Belgium and Portugal, continuing a difficult run against European opposition that stretches back to their round-of-16 exit to the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Beating Germany without Richards would deliver a significant confidence boost, though Pochettino’s primary concern will be a clean performance and a fully fit squad emerging on the other side.

All 26 players on the World Cup roster, Richards included, trained at the Chicago Fire facility on Friday, suggesting the defender remains in contention for the tournament itself if his recovery progresses. Whether he is fit to face Paraguay on 12 June remains the central question hanging over the U.S. camp as the countdown to the World Cup reaches its final days.