USMNT defenders Chris Richards and Miles Robinson out with injury vs

Seth Vertelney, USA TODAY Fri, March 27, 2026 at 7:13 PM UTC

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ATLANTA — Miles Robinson and Chris Richards will both miss the U.S. men's national team match against Belgium on Saturday with injuries, head coach Mauricio Pochettino said at his pre-game press conference.

Pochettino added that Robinson will miss Tuesday's game against Portugal, while Richards is also likely to miss that match as well.

The injuries are a blow to the USMNT back line, with Richards a lock starter and Robinson among a group vying to start at right center back in Pochettino's three-back system.

"Miles Robinson is for sure out for the two games. He suffered a minor injury in his groin Monday or Tuesday (in training)," Pochettino said of the FC Cincinnati center back.

On Richards, Pochettino said it was a "difficult situation to assess and to explain, because he played Thursday (March 19) in Europe with Crystal Palace (against AEK Larnaca in the Conference League).

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"He reported Monday some problems in his knee after we were assessing him," Pochettino said. "He was training some part on Tuesday, but he couldn't finish Wednesday, and he now feels something in his knee.

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"We hope that this is nothing important, but for tomorrow (versus Belgium) he is out, and I don't believe that can arrive Tuesday (against Portugal)."

Losing Richards and Robinson will force Pochettino to make adjustments along his back line.

The coach mentioned Joe Scally as an option to fill in at right center back and even Tanner Tessmann, who typically plays central midfield but has featured sparingly in defense for Lyon this season.

Alex Freeman is also an option at the right center back role, while Auston Trusty and Mark McKenzie figure to earn plenty of minutes at center back.

The USMNT will face Belgium on March 28 at 3:30 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and will then take on Portugal on March 31 at 7 p.m. at the same venue.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chris Richards, Miles Robinson injury: USMNT roster status vs Belgium

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