The United States will be shorthanded in the backline for its upcoming World Cup tune-up games against Belgium and Portugal, as it was announced at a Friday press conference that both Miles Robinson and Chris Richards will be out due to injuries.
Robinson has gone down with a groin injury, while Richards has experienced an issue with his knee after joining the team from Crystal Palace.
“Miles Robinson is out for the two games, and he suffered a minor injury in his groin, U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino told reporters. “Chris, [a] difficult situation to assess and to explain because he played Thursday in Europe with Palace, and then the club gave permission to come to America, and he report[ed] Monday some problems in his knee. After we assess[ed] him, he was training on Tuesday, but he [could not] finish on Wednesday.”
With Tim Ream, Mark McKenzie, and Auston Trusty still available for the team’s backline, Pochettino told reporters that Joe Scally and Tanner Tessmann could also be used as cover.
Pochettino has used the three-man backline since September 2025.
The U.S. gets its World Cup tune-up underway with a game against Belgium on Saturday.
