Chris Richards’ – In the U.S. men’s national team’s World Cup opener against Paraguay, center back Chris Richards went flawless—completing all 83 passes he attempted—setting a World Cup record for 100% passing accuracy since 1966, after returning from a left-ankle injury that f
INGLEWOOD, CA — On June 12, the U.S. men’s national team didn’t just beat Paraguay in its World Cup opener. It offered a kind of precision that’s rare to see at this level.
Center back Chris Richards gave the clearest example. He completed all 83 passes he attempted, a record for the most passes by a player with 100% accuracy in a World Cup match since 1966.
The number landed like a shock because it wasn’t simply a matter of doing the easy things. Richards completed the majority of his passes in the defensive zone. but he also delivered the ball forward to teammates on the attack in some instances. For a night built on clean execution, he was the embodiment of it.
That performance mattered more than the stat line suggests. because there had been real doubt about whether Richards would be available at all. During a Premier League match for Crystal Palace on May 17, he tore two ligaments in his left ankle. The injury kept him out of the two friendlies the national team played ahead of the World Cup.
By the time the World Cup was approaching, his situation wasn’t theoretical anymore—his body was the question. Manager Mauricio Pochettino received a positive sign when Richards was cleared for training at the start of the week of the World Cup opener. Even then, Richards framed the message to the staff as straightforward.
“Every time they’ve asked me, I told them I’m good,” Richards said on Tuesday, June 9.
Richards had never played in a World Cup match before, but he arrived in Qatar with a reputation as one of the most dependable presences on the back line. Against Paraguay, he backed up that value immediately, turning concerns about fitness into proof on the biggest stage.
The sequence of this story is simple. and that’s what makes it stand out: an injury that sidelined him. a week of training clearance that pointed toward a return. and then a first World Cup match defined by an almost impossible level of accuracy. Richards’ 83-for-83 passing wasn’t just history—it was the kind of performance that changes how quickly a team’s confidence settles into the game.
Chris Richards USA soccer USMNT World Cup Paraguay Gregg Berhalter Mauricio Pochettino Crystal Palace left ankle injury ESPN Insights OptaJack