Entire USMNT Roster Available for Group Stage Opener vs. Paraguay

LOS ANGELES – All 26 players on the roster for the U.S. Men’s National Team will be available for the team’s group stage opener at FIFA World Cup 2026.

The news comes straight from head coach Mauricio Pochettino, whose pre-match press conference was held at the site of the USA’s first group stage fixture, Los Angeles Stadium.

The biggest question mark for the U.S. heading into matchday was the status of Chris Richards . The center back has been working his way back from an ankle injury he suffered while with his club, Crystal Palace, in May.

Pochettino confirmed on Thursday during the press conference that Richards is available for selection for tomorrow’s match, which means the head coach will have a full squad at his disposal.

Of course whether the 26-year-old center back is included in Pochettino’s starting XI is a different question – one we won’t know the answer to until before kickoff tomorrow.

“We will decide if he’ll start the game or come off the bench,” Pochettino said. “We celebrate the job that our medical staff and performance staff; [they] worked really hard to help Chris recover… it’s really a good feeling to have all 26 players available to select”

Richards met with the media on Wednesday from the team’s base camp in Orange County. After sitting out the two send-off matches against Senegal and Germany, Richards declared he was feeling good and ready to go for the USMNT’s next match.

“I would love to be playing this opening game,” Richards said.