Richards, 26, suffered a left ankle injury on May 17 and missed Palace's final Premier League game of the season. Mike Hewitt via Getty ImagesMay 27, 2026 1:52 pm EDT Updated U.S. men’s national team defender Chris Richards has been named to the bench for Crystal Palace’s UEFA Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano, overcoming an ankle injury that had caused concern leading into the World Cup but not to the point that he was chosen to start.The 26-year-old was hurt in Palace’s penultimate Premier League game of the season (a 2-2 draw with Brentford on May 17), with it being later confirmed by manager Oliver Glasner that he had sustained two torn ligaments in his left ankle.Richards was still named in the USMNT’s squad for the 2026 World Cup, but the center back was the only member of this year’s 26-man squad not present at Tuesday’s event due to still being with Palace and preparing for Wednesday’s game in Leipzig. The former Bayern Munich man, who submitted a video for the roster reveal from London, was not named in the squad for Palace’s final Premier League game of the season — a 2-1 home defeat to champions Arsenal last Sunday.But Richards was seen at an open training session with his Palace teammates in Germany on Tuesday, and, presuming there are no setbacks on Wednesday, he will join up with the USMNT squad later this week at the new national training center in Georgia.The Athletic reported on May 21 that Richards was not expected to miss the World Cup despite his ankle injury.“He tore two ligaments in his ankle,” Glasner said in a press conference last week. “I think it’s stable, but quite swollen, and we have to deal with the swelling. He has to get back on the pitch to be available, and it takes time.”Richards is a vital member of the defense for the U.S., which opens its World Cup against Paraguay on June 12, followed by group-stage games against Australia on June 19 and Turkey on June 25. The U.S. plays Senegal (May 31) and Germany (June 6) in pre-tournament friendlies.May 27, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms