The FA Cup winning defender believes that the USMNT knows what they’re lacking and that is competitiveness as their primary shortcoming
Richards pinpoints competitive mentality as team's biggest weaknessUSMNT defender calls for intensity improvement in both training and matchesCrystal Palace star emphasizes urgency with World Cup on home soil approachingGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED
Following the United States' elimination from the Copa America in the group stages and subsequent disappointing showing at 2025 CONCACAF Nations League, U.S. international Chris Richards believes that the group knows what they’re lacking. The USMNT finished third in their group at the 2024 Copa, losing two and winning one of their three games, and finished fourth in the Nations League. Richards spoke candidly and addressed their main issues, revealing that they believe they lack competitiveness and that needs to be shown going forward.
“Off the field, I think we have a lot of new faces this camp, and it’s another chance to get to know everybody and build a stronger bond,” Richards said on CBS Sports Golazo America. “But I think, on the field, the number one thing that we took from those two camps (Copa America and Nations League) is competitiveness. I think sometimes we left a little bit out there on the pitch and we got punished for it.
“So whether it’s training, whether it’s a small sided game or whether it’s 11v11 against a different country, we need to be more competitive and start winning games.”
Richards went on to talk about how he would define the current camp, i.e. the Gold Cup, as a success and admitted that for him, personally, winning the trophy would mark it as a successful camp.
“You know, every tournament I play in, I want to win, so I think winning a trophy would be a way to say that it’s a successful camp,” he added. “But again, just kind of building those bonds with the guys who usually aren’t here and are having big opportunities in this camp, I think is just another way.
He added, “Nobody knows what the roster is going to be for the World Cup so being able to build these bonds and relationships with these guys when it does come time for World Cup, so we’re all flying. I think that’s another way to define success.”
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The Crystal Palace star expanded on the 2026 World Cup and revealed that the team is well aware that the tournament approaches in a year’s time and that they know it’s time to show their teeth going forward.
“Yes and no,” Richards said when asked if there’s a sense of urgency with relation to the World Cup in this camp. “I think time doesn’t change, so we knew that the World Cup is a year awa,y but I think now it’s getting to a point where we really need to kind of start showing our teeth. And again, the last camp and Copa America weren’t our best camps, but we understand it’s time to get results. And again, I think everybody is really looking forward to this summer because it’s a chance to win another trophy.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The American team's recent tournament failures have raised serious concerns about their readiness for the World Cup. Lack of availability, due to various reasons, has been a challenge for Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentine hasn't been to field a full squad since taking over in September of last year. Richards and the manager have both pointed to the need for some of the newcomers to prove themselves, as there are still spots to be grabbed ahead of next year's tournament.
Getty Images SportWHAT’S NEXT?
The USMNT face Turkey next, in their first international game since the Nations League failure, on June 7, and then Switzerland on June 10 before their 2025 Gold Cup kicks off on June 14.
