With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, Haji Wright is quietly strengthening his case for a place in the squad.
The Coventry City striker has been one of the most consistent forwards in the EFL Championship and could provide an important option for USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Despite competition for places in the attacking line, Wright’s goals, physical prowess and regular playing time may give him an advantage over some rivals ahead of the tournament.
Who is Haji Wright?
Haji Wright is an American striker who currently plays for Coventry City and represents the United States men’s national soccer team.
Born in Los Angeles, Wright is of Liberian and Ghanaian descent and developed through the US youth national team system before moving to Europe.
In 2016 he joined German giants Schalke 04 as a teenager, beginning a career that would later take him to Turkey and England.
Haji Wright stats at Coventry City
Wright has been a consistent scorer since arriving at Coventry and is playing an instrumental role in the current 2025/26 season with Frank Lampard‘s side looking very likely to earn Premier League promotion.
He joined the club in August 2023 from Antalyaspor in Turkey for a club-record transfer fee of around €9 million, and has more than repaid the fee with consistent returns each year.
Championship statistics
2023–24 season
- 16 goals
- 7 assists
2024–25 season
- 12 goals
- 2 assists
2025–26 season (ongoing)
- 16 goals
- 1 assist
Those performances have helped Coventry move close to promotion to the Premier League, with the club currently leading the Championship table by five points with eight games remaining.
How tall is Haji Wright?
Haji Wright is 1.93m tall (6 ft 4 in).
His height and physical presence make him a dangerous option in the penalty area, while his pace allows him to stretch defences despite his size.
Suggested Articles
Haji Wright salary and contract
According to salary database Capology, Wright earns around:
- £25,000 per week basic salary
- up to £6,250 per week in bonuses
That equates to roughly £1.3 million per year, rising to around £1.6 million including bonuses.
Wright’s current contract with Coventry runs until the summer of 2027, placing the club in a strong negotiating position should Premier League interest emerge.
However, if Coventry fail to extend his deal, they may eventually face a decision between selling the striker or risking losing him on a free transfer later in his contract.
Haji Wright transfer interest
Wright’s form in the Championship has regularly attracted attention from other clubs. In the summer of 2025, relegated Premier League sides Leicester City and Ipswich Town were linked with a move for Wright, but no official bid was submitted.
In the end, it turned out for the best as Wright’s Coventry look set for automatic promotion while Ipswich are 10 points off top spot, and Leicester are battling relegation.
According to a report from The Telegraph in late 2025, Coventry quoted West Ham an extraordinary £200 million for the striker.
The figure was widely interpreted as a signal that Coventry had no intention of selling, particularly while pushing for promotion.
If the club reach the Premier League this year, combined with a World Cup call-up for Wright, his profile could rise significantly across Europe.
Why Haji Wright could make the USMNT World Cup squad
Competition for striker places in the USMNT remains strong, but Wright’s consistent playing time may give him an advantage.
Forward Josh Sargent recently moved from Norwich City to Toronto FC, and may need time to regain match rhythm in Major League Soccer.
By contrast, Wright is currently competing in one of Europe’s toughest second divisions and playing a key role in a promotion-chasing side.
If he continues scoring at his current rate, the Coventry striker could be difficult for Pochettino to ignore when selecting the squad for the 2026 World Cup.