On the Pitch
Open Cup
Haji Wright Looks to Make an Impact in USMNT Return after ‘Disappointing’ Gold Cup Exit with Injury
Wright leads the EFL Championship in goals so far this season
The last time the U.S. Men’s National Team took the field in Austin, Texas, this past summer Haji Wright didn’t dress.
Wright came into June camp dealing with a lingering Achilles injury. A couple of days after the USMNT’s 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia at Q2 Stadium in the Concacaf Gold Cup Group Stage, the team announced Wright would depart from the National Team to rehab.
“It was disappointing,” Wright said. “I was super excited to be at the Gold Cup and to be with the guys and hopefully go on a run and win the tournament. Obviously, that’s not how it turned out. ... I just tried to heal up and get ready for the season and hopefully earn my spot back into the National Team.”
Wright had a strong start to the summer. He subbed on in two games and scored in the United States’ opening Gold Cup 5-0 win versus Trinidad and Tobago just minutes after entering the match.
While his opportunity in the tournament was cut short, Wright has made a forceful return in the new EFL Championship season with Coventry City, leading the table in England's second-highest division. He’s scored nine goals in 11 appearances across all competitions; his eight goals in EFL gameplay lead the league.
“It feels great to be able to perform the way I have been this season,” he said. “It’s no secret I want to be on the World Cup squad, so doing my best to perform week in and week out and hopefully give myself the best opportunity to do that.”
If Wright secures a spot on the all-coveted roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it would be his second appearance in the world’s most momentous sports tournament. Wright represented the Stars and Stripes in the 2022 World Cup. He appeared in all four matches in Qatar, once as a starter and three times as a substitute. He scored off the bench in the Round of 16 against the Netherlands where the U.S. ultimately fell 3-1.
The October matches mark Wright’s first opportunity back with the USMNT since he left the Gold Cup in June. The United States is set to face Ecuador and Australia — two teams who have already punched their World Cup ticket — in this upcoming window.
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino named three strikers to this current roster. Folarin Balogun and Patrick Agyemang were called up alongside Wright. Balogun is the only returner from the last camp in September. Balogun appeared in the window’s two matches and got the starting nod in the USA’s 2-0 win over Japan. While Wright feels his primary position is a No. 9, he said he’s comfortable in any spot, whether that’s playing out wide or stepping back at the 10.
Wright knows how quickly an opportunity can slip away, and he is willing to do whatever it takes to make the most of his moment.
“My mindset doesn’t change whether I’m in camp or not,” Wright said. “I try to work my hardest and do my best wherever I’m at, and hopefully that hard work turns into an opportunity with the National Team.”
