Richards praised the latest wave of Americans moving to the Premier League and the Championship, noting that the leagues are tapping into the US pipeline. This summer, 19-year-old Real Salt Lake midfielder Zavier Gozo joined Richards in the Premier League with Crystal Palace, while others like Max Arfsten, Jack McGlynn, Sebastian Berhalter, Luca Bombino, and Rokas Pukstas moved to the Championship. Richards believes that the English Football League is the best setup in the world and the toughest, which is why American players are being brought over.
Fans in England are appreciating American players with each passing season, Richards said. He highlighted that fans in the crowds are now wearing U.S. jerseys, showing the respect that Americans have gained in the Premier League. Gozo, who is training with the USMNT at the start of the international break, is excited about claiming his first-ever opportunity with the senior national team at 19. The USMNT will face Peru, Chile, Mexico, and Canada in the fall international break, with a youthful core training in the Atlanta area at U.S. Soccer's new National Training Center.