Haji Wright’s early second-half substitution in Saturday’s home loss to Southampton has led to some worrying news about his immediate future.
Wright left Saturday’s 2-1 loss at the CBS Arena due to a groin injury, Sky Blues manager Frank Lampard confirmed postmatch. The U.S. men’s national team striker started the match but only played 62 minutes in the loss, which was only Coventry City’s second home defeat of the season.
“Haji’s got a bit of a sensation in his groin so we’ll have to check that out,” Lampard said in an interview, transcribed by the Coventry Telegraph.
Wright’s production has picked back up in 2026 with the American forward scoring eight of his 17 goals this season in the new year. The 27-year-old was named Coventry City’s Fans Player of the Month for February after scoring five times, including a hat trick in a home victory over second-place Middlesbrough.
He also scored in three-consecutive matches against Sheffield United, Stoke City, and Bristol City respectively before getting a rest in a 3-0 victory over Preston North End.
Coventry City could ill afford to lose Wright’s services, sitting nine points clear in the race for automatic promotion.
The Sky Blues will travel to Swansea City on Saturday in their final match of the month and Lampard will hope that Wright is available for the trip to Wales.
Good thing the US finally has more than one productive striker these days.
Just from where I’m sitting, Haji’s already probably locked down his spot on that final WC roster. Right now if I’m Pochettino, I’d personally be in the mode of: wrap these guys in bubble wrap, get them through the end of the season, and especially for one of the core 15-18 guys – which Haji assuredly is – I’m taking zero chances. If I know I’m bringing them, if the guy isn’t healthy here in March, I am absolutely not calling him, I’m leaving him with his club’s training staff and getting him some time to heal up because I absolutely want him in June. I’d think real hard of leaving not just Wright but Pulisic out of this camp as well, because Pulisic has emphatically not been healthy the last couple months.
I’d probably use this camp to firm up the last five or eight guys on the bubble…and I just don’t see Haji as being on the bubble. If he’s healthy, is there a roster anybody would make where he stays home? I think we’re bringing three #9’s for the 26, and my feeling is that last spot is probably between Pepi and Ajyemang and given the way Poch seems have carried a Show Me philosophy from Minute 1, this is probably Pepi’s last chance to make his case. I’d personally want to take a long look at both guys in an apples-to-apples setting, and see not just how they play but how they might fit.
quozzel,
“I’d probably use this camp to firm up the last five or eight guys on the bubble…”
I doubt that will happen.
Injury/fitness concerns will determine everything but to the extent that the USMNT can bring in and “firm up” the “first” 11 and the most likely 5-8 subs they will probably do that.
We’re talking Belgium, and Portugal. Then we play Senegal, and then after the roster is picked, Germany. That represents the four toughest teams in a row that the USMNT has faced under Pochettino. Even though they are friendlies, it gives Pochettino some decent competition to help sort out his starters and how he wants them to play in the World Cup.
I get why you’d want to rest Pulisic but he’ll have until June 1, two months to heal if he injures himself in one of these friendlies. He needs to be there to show these guys that he gives a shit.
It’s not ideal but there is almost nothing ideal when it comes to buildng a World Cup team.
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2026 World Cup Squad Deadlines
Provisional Squad Submission: May 11, 2026.
Final Squad Submission: May 30, 2026.
Final Squad Announcement: Participating nations have until June 1, 2026, to officially announce their rosters.
Squad Size Regulations
Roster Limit: FIFA has confirmed that final squads will consist of 23 players. This is a return to the traditional format after the expanded 26-player rosters used in the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Extra Players: Teams are allowed to carry up to nine extra players for training and preparation purposes until their first match of the tournament.
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I have no doubt that the USMNT have already factored in potential injuries as much as anyone can, My guess is that they probably already have most of their 23 figured out, barring injury. These games should be the shakedown cruise. The provisional roster should tell you most of what you need to know.
It’s time to stop fucking around.