Plenty of supporters were tuned in to the CBS Arena on Monday night as the Championship’s top two went head-to-head — and American viewers in particular would have taken note of Haji Wright firing home his second hat trick for Coventry City F.C..
With the World Cup set to be staged in the United States this summer, optimism is naturally building. Donald Trump has spoken positively about the tournament, and USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino has even suggested the Stars and Stripes are capable of going all the way.
As the countdown continues, attention is turning to the players hoping to feature prominently on home soil. Wright — who has already earned 20 senior caps for the national side — is among those pushing hard for inclusion. He faces competition from names such as Patrick Agyemang and Josh Sargent for a supporting striker role behind Folarin Balogun.
After his standout display against Middlesbrough F.C., Wright may have edged himself ahead in that battle.
Wright’s resurgence at the perfect time
The 27-year-old began the season in blistering form, scoring eight goals in his first nine Championship outings and playing a central role in Coventry’s early push at the top of the table. Although that purple patch cooled off — with only five goals arriving between October and the turn of the year — his recent resurgence could not be better timed.
Goals in consecutive 2-1 wins over Leicester City F.C. and Millwall F.C. set the stage before his hat trick in the high-stakes clash with Middlesbrough took his tally to 13 for the campaign. Six goals in his last six matches suggest he is once again hitting peak rhythm.
Since joining Coventry from Antalyaspor in 2023, Wright has shown a tendency to operate in bursts — enduring dry spells before exploding into prolific runs. If this latest scoring streak continues through the spring, it could propel both club and country ambitions.
For Coventry, sustained form from Wright could help secure promotion back to the Premier League for the first time since 2000/01. For the United States, it strengthens an already competitive forward line heading into a home World Cup.
With attacking options like Balogun and Ricardo Pepi also delivering in Europe, the USMNT appear to have enviable depth up front. That kind of firepower is exactly what supporters — and indeed President Trump — will hope translates into a serious run at global glory this summer.
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