Soccer player Chris Richards of the United States Men’s National Team is planning to attend Wednesday night’s match for hometown club Birmingham Legion, AL.com has learned.

Legion takes on Northern Virginia club Loudoun United at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Protective Stadium. Richards grew up playing soccer in the Birmingham area and plays professionally for Crystal Palace of the English Premier League. Most recently, he had a breakout performance for the U.S. in the semifinals and championship round of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Led by Richards and teammates Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna, the U.S. defeated Mexico 3-0 in the semifinals in Las Vegas before blanking Canada in the CONCACAF finals. Richards scored the first international goal of his career on Sunday to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead against Canada. With Richards dominating from the centerback position, the Americans’ defense went on to shutout Canada 2-0.

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Richards was interviewed after the match by an on-field reporter, who asked the 23-year-old defender where he was going to go to celebrate his international championship. “I’m going back to Birmingham,” Richards said.

So wholesome, as the kids might say.

Richards and his U.S. teammates partied in Las Vegas on Sunday, of course. The Hoover native was then greeted at the Birmingham airport by fans. Richards is a noted fan of local soccer club Birmingham Legion FC, and has sent the team video messages through social media voicing his support for his hometown club. Richards created a video message celebrating Legion’s impressive run in the U.S. Open Cup.

Legion defeated MLS club Charlotte FC 1-0 in the Open Cup’s Round of 16, setting an attendance record for pro soccer in Alabama. Legion supporters then smashed that record a week later when 18,418 fans attended Legion’s Open Cup quarterfinals match against Inter Miami. Things have moved quickly for Legion ever since.

On Tuesday, NBA legend Dominique Wilkins appeared on ESPN First Take and announced a new relationship with the club. Legion confirmed that Wilkins joined the club’s ownership group as an investor and is interested in bringing the Birmingham community together through the soccer club.

Richards represents a cultural milestone for Birmingham-area soccer. His rise at the international level and in the English Premier League adds a level of legitimacy to central Alabama’s grassroots development leagues. Richards grew up playing soccer locally on rec fields throughout the area.

Richards emerged as a locker room leader for the USMNT over the last few weeks, and that development culminated in two glowing performances against the U.S.’s top rivals in the region. Richards missed the 2022 World Cup due to an injury, but he is now considered a mainstay at centerback for the national team. That’s no small thing, and something advocates of soccer in Birmingham hope can attract games featuring the national team leading up to the 2026 World Cup in North America.

I’ve enjoyed writing about Richards and Birmingham Legion as soccer’s relevance has grown throughout Alabama in recent years. Legion is now in its fifth season, which is longer than any similar pro team in Birmingham’s history. It’s an independent club owned by local businessmen whose main mission for Legion is to help promote Birmingham and push the city forward. It’s working. The future looks promising.

Richards has a powerful story to tell about the potential of soccer in Alabama, and Birmingham Legion is proving that big-time professional soccer can thrive in Alabama’s largest metro area. It’s a compelling combination that speaks to the progress of the city. Legion will honor Richards at halftime of Wednesday night’s game with a special video tribute.

Joseph Goodman is the lead sports columnist for the Alabama Media Group, and author of “We Want Bama”, a book about togetherness, hope and rum. You can find him on Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr.