Chris Richards is going back to the United States squad. U.S. Soccer announced on Wednesday, November 4 that head coach Mauricio Pochettino has named the Crystal Palace defender in his 25-player roster for the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals against Haiti.
The call-up is confirmed, not projected. Richards is one of nine defenders on the list, and he is listed with Crystal Palace as his club.
Before he reports, he has one more club assignment. The Premier League fixture list has Crystal Palace at home to Liverpool on Sunday, November 8, with kickoff at 2:00 PM UK time at Selhurst Park.
It is the final league match before the November international break. Richards then joins the U.S. camp at the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Atlanta.
Why Richards Matters for the United States
Richards arrives with 43 caps and four goals, according to U.S. Soccer. Only six players on this roster have more international experience.
He is also a proven tournament player for this team. U.S. Soccer notes that Richards has won the Nations League twice, in 2023 and 2024.
His first international goal came in a final. He scored in the 2-0 win over Canada in the 2023 Nations League final, a match in which Folarin Balogun also scored his first U.S. goal.
Richards was also part of the most recent U.S. win over Haiti. That was a 2-1 group stage victory at the 2025 Gold Cup, decided by a Patrick Agyemang goal.
Pochettino said of this group: “We are excited to bring this group together at the beginning of our journey in this important competition.”
His Role at Crystal Palace
Richards is not a fringe player at his club. Crystal Palace’s official player profile lists him with 10 appearances and 900 minutes this season, along with 72 clearances.
Palace need him at his best right now. The Eagles sit 18th in the Premier League with seven points from nine matches, and they have conceded 21 goals.
Liverpool arrive fifth in the table. Palace also play Hoffenheim in the Europa League on Thursday, November 5, so the turnaround to Sunday is short.
A strong performance against Liverpool would send Richards into camp in form. A difficult afternoon would underline how much defensive responsibility he is carrying for a struggling side.
What Comes Next
The United States faces Haiti twice in four days. The first leg is on Saturday, November 14 at Nu Stadium in Miami, with kickoff at 4:30 PM ET.
The second leg follows on Tuesday, November 17 at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, with kickoff at 7:00 PM ET. The aggregate winner advances to the Nations League Finals in March 2027 at SoFi Stadium.
For Richards, the sequence is clear. Finish the club job against Liverpool on Sunday, then anchor a U.S. defense that expects to control a two-leg series.
His place in this roster was never really in doubt. His form over the next two weeks will help decide how far this U.S. run goes.
