{"id":3727,"date":"2026-06-12T06:34:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T06:34:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=3727"},"modified":"2026-06-12T06:34:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T06:34:01","slug":"pochettino-says-top-us-defender-chris-richards-is-available-for-world-cup-opener-after-ankle-injury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=3727","title":{"rendered":"Pochettino says top US defender Chris Richards is available for World Cup opener after ankle injury"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By GREG BEACHAM<\/p>\n

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) \u2014 Top U.S. defender Chris Richards is officially healthy enough to play in the World Cup opener less than four weeks after a significant ankle injury.<\/p>\n

Read more Japan captain Wataru Endo is out of the World Cup and retires from international duty<\/a><\/p>\n

Coach Mauricio Pochettino said Thursday that Richards \u201cis available to be selected\u201d when the Americans host Paraguay on Friday night.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will decide whether he\u2019ll start from the beginning of the game or (come off) the bench,\u201d Pochettino added. \u201cOur medical staff and performance worked really hard (on Richards\u2019) recovery. It\u2019s a really good feeling to have 26 players available to be selected.\u201d<\/p>\n

Richards is considered the team\u2019s top central defender and a key component of the World Cup starting lineup, but he got injured May 17 while playing for English club Crystal Palace. Eagles manager Oliver Glasner said he believed Richards tore two ligaments in his ankle, but the exact nature of the injury hasn\u2019t been disclosed.<\/p>\n

Richards missed the Americans\u2019 two friendlies over the past two weeks, but he said Wednesday that his ankle was \u201cfeeling good. Maybe a little swollen, but nothing tape can\u2019t help. If there\u2019s any time to sacrifice yourself, it\u2019s now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Richards\u2019 presence will be important to the Americans\u2019 hopes of slowing down the world\u2019s best teams, and Paraguay presents an immediate challenge.<\/p>\n

Read more Pictures: Vigil For Children Killed by Father<\/a><\/p>\n

Paraguay qualified for its first World Cup since 2010 with strong defensive organization, potent counterattacks and a promising new generation of players leading the way.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The U.S. defense got a break last week when gifted Strasbourg playmaker Julio Enciso was injured, likely sidelining him for at least this match.<\/p>\n

Pochettino also said he has chosen a starting goalkeeper for the opener, but declined to reveal his identity.<\/p>\n

Matt Freese, the Americans\u2019 starter for most of the past year, and Qatar World Cup starter Matt Turner are the two candidates.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know if they know,\u201d Pochettino said with a laugh. \u201cBecause if I tell, if they know, you (the media) are going to start to call them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Judge rules in favor of Ted Roof in breach-of-contract lawsuit against UCF<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP World Cup: https:\/\/apnews.com\/fifa-world-cup<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By GREG BEACHAM INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) \u2014 Top U.S. defender Chris Richards is officially healthy enough to play in the World Cup opener less than four weeks after a significant ankle injury. Coach Mauricio Pochettino said Thursday that Richards \u201cis available to be selected\u201d when the Americans host Paraguay on Friday night. \u201cWe will decide [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3726,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37,6,64],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3727","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-soccer","category-sports","category-world-cup-2026"],"yoast_head":"\nPochettino says top US defender Chris Richards is available for World Cup opener after ankle injury - Orlando Relocation Report<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=3727\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Pochettino says top US defender Chris Richards is available for World Cup opener after ankle injury - Orlando Relocation Report\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By GREG BEACHAM INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) \u2014 Top U.S. defender Chris Richards is officially healthy enough to play in the World Cup opener less than four weeks after a significant ankle injury. 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