United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino has voiced his frustration after defender Chris Richards was ruled out of the team's final pre-World Cup friendly with an ankle injury.

Richards, considered the first-choice center back for the United States, will sit out what was set to be the last opportunity for the squad to fine-tune preparations ahead of the tournament. Pochettino described himself as "annoyed" by the setback, underlining how much he values the defender heading into a competition of this magnitude.

The injury is a significant blow for Pochettino as he attempts to finalize his defensive setup. Richards had been a key figure at the back for the United States, and his absence — even in a warm-up fixture — raises questions about his fitness heading into the World Cup.

No timeline for his recovery was immediately confirmed, though the focus will be on ensuring Richards is available when the tournament kicks off.