The U.S. Men’s National Team camp for the new 2030 World Cup cycle has kicked off like the first day of school, with new faces getting to know the established guys, but a couple of players already have a massive head start on forming those crucial bonds. Chris Richards, our 26-year-old defensive anchor from Alabama, and 19-year-old winger Zavier Gozo, making his first U.S. camp appearance, are not just teammates at Crystal Palace; they are literally neighbors in greater London, and that connection is exactly what this new squad needs.
From Across the Pond to Across the Street
Gozo’s meteoric rise saw him join Richards at Crystal Palace last month after a breakthrough MLS season with Real Salt Lake. This wasn’t some random coincidence; Gozo moved in right across the street from Richards. You gotta love that! Speaking to reporters, Richards couldn’t help but crack a beaming smile about it, saying, “He’s alright. He’s alright. It’s been good having him at Palace. My favorite time at Palace was when I had another American with [goalkeeper] Matty Turner. So having Zavier here, it’s been a lot of fun.” He knows the deal: having a fellow countryman helps with shared experiences, and crushing it at the club level always elevates the national team. Richards even joked his daughter Luna is “infatuated” with Gozo, which is just awesome to hear.
For Gozo, who’d never lived outside Utah, this whole London move has been a massive adjustment. He put it perfectly: “It’s a whole new thing for me. Being in a city like London, a big city and obviously in a different country, it’s been a big adjustment. But I feel like having guys like Chris there to help me and guide me, and make me feel comfortable where I’m at, I kind of have a mini-family like right across the street.” That kind of support, that “mini-family” vibe right there in a new country, is invaluable for a young player stepping into such huge shoes. Richards, a gregarious guy in his fifth Palace season and the I-beam of our U.S. backline, is exactly the “big brother” Gozo needs.
Gozo’s Wild Ride to the Premier League and Beyond
This kid’s ascent has been insane. After lighting up MLS with six goals and five assists in just 16 matches, Gozo wasted no time getting Premier League action. He made his debut on August 22, coming on in the 68th minute during a tough 4-1 home loss to Manchester City. Then he snagged 17 minutes in a 3-0 League Cup win over Middlesbrough. Yeah, he missed the matchday squad for the 0-0 draw at Leeds last weekend, but the move to Palace and this first USMNT camp are already accelerating his path. He’s been tearing it up through the youth international ranks, and now Pochettino has invited him, plus a dozen other first-timers, to join the senior squad. This kid is for real, and he’s just getting started.
This USMNT camp is kicking off a whole new four-year journey to the 2030 World Cup, and seeing young players like Gozo immediately finding comfort with veterans like Richards is huge. They’re playing Peru this Saturday in Orlando, then Chile on Tuesday in St. Louis, and finally archrival Mexico on October 3 in Phoenix. These friendlies are massive for building chemistry, and with Richards and Gozo already having that real-life, across-the-street connection, you know they’ll be bringing that same energy to the pitch. It’s going to be wild to watch them grow together.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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