U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Mauricio Pochettino says defender Chris Richards will not take part in the team’s final tune-up friendly against Senegal, citing an ankle injury. Multiple outlets report Richards does not travel for the match in Charlotte, leaving his availability for the World Cup uncertain. The injury is described as an ankle problem sustained toward the end of Richards’s club season with Crystal Palace, and it affected his participation as U.S. preparations build toward their World Cup opener. Pochettino’s comments indicate further medical assessment is ongoing, and the coaching staff is not ready to confirm Richards’s tournament readiness. Coverage also notes that Richards had recently been involved in training activities and was working to be fit, but the decision for the Senegal friendly is treated as precautionary given the injury assessment. While Richards is regarded as an important part of the U.S. defensive setup, the current focus is on determining whether his ankle will recover in time for the tournament. The United States opens the World Cup against Paraguay, and Richards’s status remains a key question for defensive depth and lineup planning.