The latest installment of the World Cup is nearly here, with fans set to watch the tournament taking part during the autumn and winter months for the first time in history.
Several of the 32 teams taking part have already announced their squads, with many more expected to make their final decisions in the next few days. However, some players unfortunately will not be able to take part due to suffering heart-breaking injuries at the last minute.
One player that falls into this category is Chris Richards. The 22-year-old has featured for the USMNT youth teams at various levels and was looking forward to being part of Gregg Berhalter's squad that headed to Qatar. Berhalter is expected to announce his final team within the next 24 to 48 hours.
Unfortunately for Richards, who is now on the books at Crystal Palace, he will not be on the plane. Injuries have really affected him all season, and so far, he has only been able to make a handful of appearances for the Eagles after signing with his new team this past July. Prior to coming to the Premier League, Richards played for Bayern Munich (both the reserves and the senior team), where he failed to really nail down a consistent spot in the first team before moving on loan to Hoffenheim.
While Richards is still young - at just 22 years of age - this means that he will have to wait until 2026, when the USMNT will be one of three hosts for the 2026 edition in order to finally make his debut at a World Cup.
Meanwhile, the USMNT will be kicking off their campaign against Wales on November 21st. The Yanks face a tough battle to get out of Group B, as they will also have to face EURO 2020 runners-up England in addition to a Wales side led by superstar Gareth Bale.
