Birmingham native Chris Richards continues to make Alabama proud on soccer’s biggest stage.

The Hoover soccer player was in the starting lineup Wednesday night as the U.S. Men’s National Team defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0, advancing to the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The victory marked the Americans’ first World Cup knockout-stage win since 2002 and set up a matchup with Belgium national football team in the next round.

Richards, who currently plays for Crystal Palace, returned to the lineup after sitting out the team’s final group-stage match as a precaution. He helped anchor a U.S. defense that held firm after forward Folarin Balogun was shown a red card, forcing the Americans to play the final 35 minutes with 10 men before a late goal sealed the win.

After the match, Richards spoke about the team’s determination to rally around its suspended star. “We told him that we’ve got his back,” Richards said. “We know we’re a team of 26, not just one.”

The moment is another milestone in an unlikely journey that began in Hoover. Though his father, Ken Richards, played basketball at Birmingham-Southern and professionally overseas, Chris ultimately chose a different path. At 16, he made the difficult decision to pursue soccer full-time, eventually leaving Alabama to join the FC Dallas youth system after being cut from his first tryout.

That decision launched a career that has taken him from Alabama to some of the world’s biggest clubs, including FC Bayern Munich and Crystal Palace. Earlier this year, he helped Crystal Palace capture the first major trophy in club history with an FA Cup victory.

Before the World Cup, Richards returned home to Birmingham to help open the city’s FIFA Arena, reflecting on how far both he and his hometown have come.

“For me, it was kind of a full-circle moment,” Richards told Fox Sports’ Tom Rinaldi. “Since I left Birmingham, I’ve seen myself grow and I’ve seen my city grow. Hopefully inspire the next generation to do better than I did.”

Now, as Team USA prepares for Belgium, Richards remains one of the key pieces in a squad chasing its deepest World Cup run in decades.

“I don’t think I could’ve dreamed where I’m at today,” Richards told Fox Sports’ Tom Rinaldi. “All of the setbacks — my parents, this community got me ready for these moments.”

The U.S. will face Belgium on Monday, July 6, at 7 p.m. CT as Richards and Team USA look to continue their deepest World Cup run in more than two decades.