LOS ANGELES STADIUM — I knew this USA team could cook, but it threw some special sauce in on Friday night. The USA gave us a little bit of everything — and then some — in the first half of its win over Paraguay. Mauricio Pochettino’s team was dominant from the opening whistle to the … Read more
LOS ANGELES STADIUM — Matt Freese will start in goal for the U.S. men’s national team in its World Cup opener vs. Paraguay on Friday. Freese, who plays for MLS club New York City FC, made his debut for the Americans almost exactly a year ago on June 7, 2025. He has never played in … Read more
If the United States men’s national team is to make a long run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a lot will have to go right. That starts with the team’s key players, many of whom will be playing in their second World Cup. Of course, all 26 players who step onto the field for … Read more
No more friendlies. No more tune-ups. Next up for the United States after games against Senegal and Germany: the 2026 FIFA World Cup. There are positives and negatives to take away from a 3-2 win over Senegal and a 2-1 loss to Germany. Two former USA World Cup players (Maurice Edu in 2010 and Walker … Read more
Top defender Chris Richards participated in his first full practice with the U.S. World Cup team on Monday when the Americans reported to their training base in Southern California. Richards tore two left ankle ligaments while playing for Crystal Palace on May 17, and he missed the Americans’ two friendlies over the past week. He … Read more
A consistent theme has emerged on the eve of Mauricio Pochettino selecting the United States men’s soccer team’s roster for next month’s FIFA World Cup: Nobody really knows. Pochettino will inform the 26 players who survive the cull this weekend, according to multiple sources briefed on the Argentine’s plans. The ex-Chelsea and PSG boss has … Read more
United States men’s national team center back Chris Richards finished Crystal Palace’s 2-2 draw with Brentford on Sunday with a left ankle issue after a 77th-minute collision with Igor Thiago. Richards, who came on as a substitute in the 61st, finished the game but was seen being helped down the tunnel afterward and didn’t appear … Read more
MARIETTA, Georgia — Chris Richards knew the question was coming. And when he heard it, he smiled. “Tell us about your knee — what’s going on there?” a reporter asked Monday ahead of the U.S. men’s national team’s training session. The Crystal Palace center back missed Saturday’s 5-2 defeat to Belgium because of a knee … Read more
Chris Richards is doing his job to represent the USA positively. He’s won awards at the national team level, grown into a leader for the squad, and taken on an understanding of playing for his country. Richards appeared on FOX Sports’ First Things First on Tuesday to reign in the 100 days from the World … Read more
The last time we did this exercise we began with a word about why the importance of formations in soccer is generally overrated. Since the way teams initially set up means little, and because it’s been almost three full months since the U.S. men’s national team took to the field, let’s consider the very real … Read more