USMNT defender Chris Richards available to face Portugal

Richards missed previous match against Belgium due to knee injury but will be ready for Tuesday's friendly.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 4:56pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a soccer match, with overlapping planes of green, white, and red representing the field, players, and uniforms, conveying the dynamic energy and tension of the upcoming USMNT match.A cubist interpretation of the USMNT's upcoming friendly against Portugal, highlighting the team's need to regroup and rebuild after a tough loss.Atlanta Today

The U.S. men's national team received positive injury news on Monday as defender Chris Richards said he would be available for Tuesday's friendly match against Portugal. Richards missed Saturday's 5-2 defeat against Belgium due to a knee injury, but the 26-year-old has been training individually all week and is ready to return to the lineup.

Why it matters

Richards has emerged as a key starter on the USMNT back line, and his presence was sorely missed as the team conceded four second-half goals against Belgium. His availability for the Portugal match is a significant boost as the USMNT looks to bounce back and prepare for the upcoming World Cup.

The details

Richards said his knee injury from the previous match with his club Crystal Palace was not serious, just some soreness and pain. He has been training individually all week and is ready to play against Portugal. However, the USMNT will still be without defender Miles Robinson, who was ruled out of both games after suffering a groin injury in training last week.

  • On Saturday, March 30, Richards missed the USMNT's 5-2 defeat against Belgium due to a knee injury.
  • On Monday, March 30, Richards said he would be available for Tuesday's match against Portugal.

The players

Chris Richards

A 26-year-old defender who has emerged as a lock starter on the USMNT back line.

Miles Robinson

A USMNT defender who was ruled out of both the Belgium and Portugal matches due to a groin injury suffered in training.

Mauricio Pochettino

The head coach of the USMNT who will be selecting the World Cup squad.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I'm fine. I had a bad tackle in my last game with (Crystal) Palace, so just a little bit of knee pain, knee soreness, but I've been training individually all week and I'm available as well.”

— Chris Richards, USMNT Defender

What’s next

The USMNT will face Portugal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Tuesday, March 31, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. ET.

The takeaway

Richards' return is a significant boost for the USMNT as they look to rebound from the loss to Belgium and prepare for the upcoming World Cup. His presence on the back line will be crucial, though the team will still be without the injured Miles Robinson.