The 2026 FIFA World Cup will see the United States host the tournament for a second time, sharing duties with three-time hosts Mexico and first-time hosts Canada.
Having reached the Round of 16 as hosts in 1994, the US enters this tournament with far loftier ambitions.
Back then, Palace defender Chris Richards wasn't even born, and his head coach Mauricio Pochettino had just begun his career in Europe at 22-years old.
Now, the expectations are a lot higher for the Stars and Stripes.
The Alabama-born centre-back started his career in Texas with FC Dallas, before he moved to Bayern Munich in 2019.
He first represented the USA at Under-20 level in 2018, before being handed his first senior cap against Panama in November 2020.
He would make his UEFA Champions League debut for Bayern just nine days after his first senior cap for the United States Men's National Team.
Richards would then join Bundesliga side TSG Hoffenheim on loan twice before signing for Palace in July 2022.
As he cemented his place in the Palace defence, Richards also consolidated his status as one of the best defenders in the USA.
After the disappointment of missing the 2022 World Cup due to a hamstring injury, he scored in the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Final to give his nation a second consecutive title win.
His standout performances for club and country meant that new head coach Pochettino ensured he was one of the first names on the teamsheet.
In South London, Richards played a starring role in helping Palace win the 2025 FA Cup - becoming only the second American ever to play in and win an FA Cup Final.
He played every minute of the subsequent Community Shield Final, helping Palace win a second trophy in just three months.
Richards' club exploits led him to be voted as the 2025 U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year, meaning the Palace defender enters this year’s World Cup as his country's reigning star.
Despite suffering an injury away to Brentford on the 17th May, Richards looks set to appear in the USA's opening game against Paraguay on Saturday (13th June, 02:00 BST)
Like Canada and Mexico, the United States qualified automatically as one of the three host nations, securing their place without participating in the CONCACAF qualification pathway.
This will be their eleventh World Cup campaign, with a historic third-place finish at the inaugural 1930 tournament remaining their furthest run to date.
The United States have a storied World Cup history, stretching all the way back to the inaugural tournament in 1930.
That debut campaign in Uruguay remains their most successful to date.
After convincing 3–0 group-stage victories over both Belgium and Paraguay, the USA progressed to the Semi-Final - ultimately finishing the tournament in third-place.
Their 1930 run still stands as the best-ever finish by a team from outside Europe or South America.
After appearances in 1934 and 1950, the US then had to wait 40 years for their next appearance at the tournament.
They finally returned to the world stage in 1990 and didn't look back - qualifying for six consecutive tournaments, including a run to the Quarter-Finals at the 2002 edition.
Their most recent campaign came in Qatar in 2022, where the Stars and Stripes progressed to the knockout rounds before suffering a 3–1 defeat to the Netherlands in the Round of 16.
Across their 11 previous tournament appearances, the USA have played 37 World Cup matches, notching nine victories along the way as they prepare to build on that legacy on home soil.
Goalkeepers: Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Matt Turner (New England Revolution)
Defenders: Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Auston Trusty (Celtic)
Midfielders: Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth, Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen), Tim Weah (Marseille), Alejandro Zendejas (Club América)
Forwards: Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Haji Wright (Coventry City)
What group are they in?
The USA have been drawn in Group D alongside Australia, Paraguay and Türkiye, with their group-stage matches hosted in Los Angeles and Seattle.
World Cup fact
The USA’s historic 1–0 win over England at the 1950 World Cup remains one of the greatest shocks in football history.
England's squad boasted the likes of Tom Finney, Billy Wright, and Alf Ramsey whilst the USA team was a patchwork of part-time amateurs - including a teacher, a hearse-driver, and a hat-maker.
The scorer of the winning goal - Joe Gaetjens, wasn't even a US citizen; he was a Haitian student working as a dishwasher in New York.
*Broadcasters are UK
