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USMNT to be without two center backs for Belgium friendly
Robinson and Richards will miss Saturday's match due to injuries
Mar. 28, 2026 at 1:48am
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The U.S. men's national soccer team will be without center backs Miles Robinson and Chris Richards for their upcoming friendly against Belgium on Saturday. Robinson is out with a minor groin injury, while Richards is dealing with knee problems after playing for his club team Crystal Palace. The absences put more focus on the center back position, which is still wide open for the U.S. ahead of the World Cup.
Why it matters
The USMNT is still evaluating its options at center back with the World Cup just two months away. The injuries to Robinson and Richards provide an opportunity for other players to step up and stake their claim for a roster spot.
The details
Robinson will miss not only the Belgium match, but also the game against Portugal on Tuesday. Richards' status is more uncertain, as he reported knee problems after joining the national team camp. With Robinson and Richards out, Tim Ream, Mark McKenzie and Auston Trusty are now expected to start in the back three against Belgium. Coach Mauricio Pochettino also mentioned that Joe Scally and Tanner Tessmann could shift to center back as well.
- Robinson suffered a minor groin injury during training on Friday.
- Richards played for his club Crystal Palace on Thursday before joining the USMNT, and reported knee problems on Monday.
The players
Miles Robinson
A center back for the USMNT who will miss the upcoming matches against Belgium and Portugal due to a minor groin injury.
Chris Richards
A center back for the USMNT who is dealing with knee problems after playing for his club team Crystal Palace, and will miss the Belgium match.
Mauricio Pochettino
The head coach of the USMNT who provided updates on the injuries to Robinson and Richards.
Tim Ream
A center back for the USMNT who is expected to start against Belgium with the absences of Robinson and Richards.
Mark McKenzie
A center back for the USMNT who is expected to start against Belgium with the absences of Robinson and Richards.
Auston Trusty
A center back for the USMNT who is expected to start against Belgium with the absences of Robinson and Richards.
What they’re saying
“'[Richards] played Thursday in Europe with [Crystal] Palace and then the club gave him permission to come to America and he reported Monday with some problems in his knee. After we were assessing him, he was training [for] some part of the training Tuesday, did not finish Wednesday. He now feels something in his knee. We hope that it's nothing important, but for tomorrow, [he] is out.'”
— Mauricio Pochettino, USMNT Head Coach
“'When something wrong happens, like with what happened with Chris Richards, we need to see now. We cannot, in an official competition say, 'Oh we need to' — you are done playing with the lineup or do some inventions.'”
— Mauricio Pochettino, USMNT Head Coach
What’s next
The USMNT will face Portugal in another friendly match on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
The takeaway
The injuries to Robinson and Richards open up opportunities for other center backs to prove themselves ahead of the World Cup roster decisions. This friendly against Belgium will be an important evaluation period for Pochettino and the coaching staff as they look to solidify the backline.
