The United States Men's National Team (USMNT) has suffered a blow during the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, with forward Haji Wright ruled out for the remainder of the tournament due to an Achilles injury. The U.S. Soccer Federation announced the news on Saturday, June 21, confirming that the 27-year-old from Los Angeles would be returning to his club team, Coventry City, for further evaluation and treatment.
Wright's injury occurred after he made a notable contribution in the opening match of the Gold Cup against Trinidad and Tobago. He scored in the 84th minute of the game, just 11 minutes after entering as a substitute, helping the USMNT secure a dominant 5-0 victory. However, he did not feature in the subsequent 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia, and concerns about his fitness have now been confirmed with the Achilles injury diagnosis.
"It's sad. He's a very good guy and added a lot of quality in the group as a different option," USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino said during a pregame press conference on Saturday. "He's a player that can play different positions in attack. Yes, a sad situation, sad for him, sad for the team, yeah, but I think we need to prioritize his process of recovery. A sad moment, but we need to be looking forward and try to accept the reality and keep being strong."
The loss of Wright is a setback for the USMNT, as he was expected to play a key role in Pochettino's squad throughout the remainder of the tournament. His ability to play in different attacking positions provided the team with valuable flexibility. However, Wright will not be replaced on the tournament roster.
Wright's absence leaves Pochettino with fewer options upfront as the team progresses through the Gold Cup. The remaining forwards in the squad include Paxten Aaronson, Patrick Agyemang, Damion Downs and Brian White.
Despite the injury setback, the USMNT has already secured a place in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup. They are set to play Haiti in their group stage finale on Sunday. With a spot in the next round already secured, Pochettino may use the opportunity to experiment with different lineups and give other players a chance to step up in Wright's absence.
Wright will now focus on his recovery with Coventry City. The club will be eager to assess the extent of the injury and begin the rehabilitation process to get him back on the field as soon as possible for the upcoming season.
