8 key stats from Alabama native Chris Richards’ first World Cup
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The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) is out of the 2026 World Cup but soccer fans around Alabama are still celebrating after following Hoover native Chris Richards compete on the sport’s biggest stage.
Richards started four games at centerback for the USMNT, helping the team keep a pair of clean sheets on its way to the Round of 16.
That run ended Monday night though as Belgium dominated the U.S. in a 4-1 win in Seattle. But before looking ahead to 2030, let’s take a look back at how Richards performed in his first World Cup.
Chris Richards in the World Cup: By the Numbers
2: Richards helped the USMNT keep 2 clean sheets. It’s the first time the men’s team recorded multiple shutouts in one World Cup since 1930.
17: Richards led the team with 17 aerial duels won, also known as contested headers.
19.1: In the win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Richards hit a top sprint speed of 19.1 miles per hour.
26.6: In his four games, Richards covered 26.6 miles on the pitch, just over a marathon-worth of movement.
27: Richards also led the U.S. defense with 27 clearances.
80: In his debut game, Richards completed all 80 of his pass attempts. That’s the most by a player with 100 percent pass accuracy in men’s World Cup history.
95.2: Richards’ passing stayed consistent throughout the tournament, finishing with a 95.2% completion rate. He is currently one of 10 players in the tournament with at least 275 passes completed at a 95% rate or higher.
2002: Richards helped the USMNT earn its first win in the knockout stage since 2002.
