World Cup: Germany coach Nagelsmann confirms Neuer's return for Curacao game
· India Today
INGLEWOOD, California — Given where he's from, it's no surprise Chris Richards is a football player.
It's the kind of football he plays that's the surprise.
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The starting center back for the U.S. men's national team grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, the heart of SEC football country. Tuscaloosa is an hour west, and Alabama was in its dynasty days under Nick Saban when Richards was growing up.
But Richards gravitated toward soccer. As he got older, he knew he'd have to leave Alabama if he was going to have any chance in soccer.
"There weren't many opportunities for me, so I had to leave home to go pursue my dreams," Richards said ahead of the USMNT's first game at the World Cup. "It was a lot of sacrifices from 15, 16 years old that a lot of kids don't do, but it all paid off."
Richards moved to Texas while he was in high school, playing first for Texans SC in Houston before joining the FC Dallas Academy in 2017. A year later, he signed his first pro contract with FC Dallas and a year after that, he was on his way to Germany.
Richards spent four years, first with Bayern Munich and then with TSG Hoffenheim. In July 2022, he was transferred to Crystal Palace in the English Premier League for $12 million.
"It was a few hurdles I had to jump over to get here," Richards said.
That includes the injury that kept him out of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Richards had figured to be a part of Gregg Berhalter's squad for that tournament, but he injured his hamstring three months earlier. On the day before the USMNT roster was to be announced, Richards confirmed on Instagram that he would miss the World Cup.
Devastating as it was at the time, Richards said missing the 2022 World Cup gave him the motivation to be the player he is now. He's established himself as the lynchpin of the backline under Mauricio Pochettino, and last year was named U.S. Soccer's male player of the year.
"I think it helped me prepare for 2026. I was a 22-year-old kid back then. Maybe I was a bit naive to certain things like recovery and stuff like that," Richards told FIFA.com earlier this year. "But ever since that moment, I've made sure that I can be in this squad for the 2026 World Cup, and, again, help my team to wherever we go in this World Cup."
In the 4-1 win over Paraguay in the opener, Richards completed all 83 passes he attempted, an astonishing figure.
Making it even more impressive is that Richards' availability for the game had been in doubt after he tore two ligaments in Crystal Palace's final EPL game of the season.
"Ankle feels fine. No problem at all," Richards said after the game.
Richards had missed both of the USMNT's friendlies ahead of the World Cup. But he returned to full training on July 8, and said two days later that he believed he was ready to play. He wound up starting and playing the entire game.
"I think they've seen the progression over the last two weeks. Me personally, I think I look good on the pitch now," Richards said on Wednesday, June 10. "Every time I'm, I tell them I'm ready. So whatever they decide on Friday, I'll back them, but I want to be in the field."
Playing in a World Cup has long been Richards' dream. To do it in his home country makes it all the better.
"Oh, amazing. Amazing," Richards said after the game, beaming. "I've thought about the World Cup my whole life and I couldn't have imagined a reception like this. It was a great night."
One all football fans can appreciate.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Chris Richards chose futbol over football