Chris Richards eyes Australia test as Pulisic misses USMNT friendly

Chris Richards saw Australia as more than just another stop on the road to 2026. With Christian Pulisic forced off in the first half, the United States had to show it could win with structure, size and discipline against a team that arrived in Colorado unbeaten in 12 straight and ranked 25th in the FIFA standings.

The matchup at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado, came at a critical point in the buildup to the 2026 World Cup. U.S. Soccer had treated the October 14, 2025 friendly as a test against a World Cup-qualified opponent, and the stakes were heightened by the calendar: only three international windows remained after October before the pre-tournament camp. The Americans had already shown they could cope with elite opposition by drawing 1-1 with Ecuador in Austin days earlier, but Australia offered a different problem, one built around aerial duels, contact and long stretches without the ball.

That was the kind of environment Richards appeared built for. The Crystal Palace defender, named U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year in 2025, had become one of Mauricio Pochettino’s most trusted pieces in the back line. Richards had also spoken about the emotional weight of this cycle, saying missing Qatar 2022 because of a hamstring injury pushed him to spend four years preparing for the chance to play a home World Cup. By the time the team reached Colorado, Richards was no longer simply a promising defender; he was part of the core the U.S. wanted to trust in a knockout-style atmosphere.

The game quickly underlined why that trust mattered. Pulisic left before halftime after a heavy challenge on a promising counterattack and later had the issue assessed in Italy, where AC Milan confirmed a low-grade tear in his right hamstring. His absence stripped away the most natural game-breaker in the American attack and forced Pochettino’s side to find another route to goal. They did, with Haji Wright scoring twice and Cristian Roldan supplying both assists in a 2-1 comeback that became the first under Pochettino.

The result mattered beyond the scoreline. It extended the U.S. unbeaten run against World Cup-qualified opponents and offered a cleaner answer to the question Richards was helping frame: whether the Americans can win the hard, physical matches of a World Cup campaign without relying on Pulisic to carry the offense. On this night, the answer was yes, through resilience, organization and a back line willing to absorb pressure until the game opened.