Chris Richards has a date with destiny in Leipzig—and it means he'll be fashionably late to the U.S. World Cup camp. But honestly, who could blame him?
The Crystal Palace defender and his teammates are heading to the UEFA Conference League final on May 27, the very same day U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino kicks off final World Cup preparations in Atlanta. Talk about a scheduling clash with style.
Richards' European adventure was sealed Thursday when Palace defeated Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 in London, securing a 5-2 aggregate semifinal victory. On the other side of the bracket, Spain's Rayo Vallecano knocked out France's Strasbourg, setting up a showdown that could define Palace's season.
Under FIFA rules, clubs must release players after May 24-25—unless they're competing in continental finals. That exemption gives Richards a golden ticket to miss the U.S. roster announcement festivities in New York on May 26 and at least two training sessions at the USSF's new national training center in Fayetteville, Georgia.
The Alabama-born center back has been a workhorse this season, appearing in 45 matches across all competitions for Palace. He's expected to join the U.S. squad ahead of the May 31 friendly against Senegal in Charlotte—if his trophy chase doesn't go to extra time, that is.
For the Americans, the warm-up gauntlet continues with a June 6 clash against Germany in Chicago before settling into their World Cup base camp in Irvine, California. The big one comes June 12: the tournament opener against Paraguay in Greater Los Angeles.
For Crystal Palace, this final is more than just silverware. The Eagles—who lifted the FA Cup for the first time last year—have never won a European trophy. The prize? An automatic berth in next season's Europa League, UEFA's second-tier competition. It's been a rollercoaster season for Palace: a stunning FA Cup exit to sixth-division Macclesfield in the third round, currently sitting 15th in the Premier League, just seven points above the relegation zone. A European trophy would be the perfect redemption arc.
With four Premier League matches remaining, Richards and his teammates have everything to play for. And for U.S. fans, watching their center back chase glory on the European stage is the kind of problem every World Cup-bound nation dreams of having.