Richards’ importance goes beyond simple squad depth. He is one of the more established defenders in a group still settling into life under Mauricio Pochettino, who has only been in the job for a matter of months.
That timeline tells its own story. The injury came late, the recovery window is tight, and the first competitive match is now close enough that every day counts.
The key decision for the US staff is not just whether Richards can play, but whether he can play at the level the tournament demands. There is little value in rushing a defender into a high-intensity opener if he is not ready to move, recover and defend aggressively.
That is especially relevant with the group schedule offering little margin for disruption. Paraguay, Australia and Senegal present very different challenges, and defensive cohesion could be one of the deciding factors in how far the US go.
This is also a test of squad adaptation. The US are still absorbing new ideas and new demands, and losing one of their senior defenders during that process would be awkward timing. Richards being back around the group at least gives Pochettino a chance to keep that door open.
The next clue will come after the warm-up games, with Turkey still to come before the opener. If Richards keeps progressing, the story could shift quickly from cautious optimism to genuine availability by 19 June.