'The World Cup was like a fever dream' - Haji Wright seeks another moment with the USMNT on the game's biggest stage, this time with a chance to rewrite the ending

It's fitting, in a way, that it was Pulisic that set up Wright's World Cup goal. That's because Pulisic has been, for years, one of Wright's closest friends. They grew up together, sharing the spotlight with several others that would go on to become USMNT regulars.

Even before Pulisic was thrust into the spotlight at Borussia Dortmund, Wright was, for many, the crown jewel of his youth soccer age group. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Wright had developed quite a reputation as a member of the U.S. U15s and U17s. Many across the country had their eye on the LA Galaxy's star striker. Many believed that, at some point, he'd be the one leading the line for the USMNT.

"That was the dynamic duo," Pulisic said in 2022. "I love playing with Haji. We go way back. We had a lot of good success together with the youth national team and it's nice to have him here now."

It was with those youth teams and with U.S. Soccer's residency program that he ended up meeting Pulisic and several others. Weston McKennie was there. So, too, was Tyler Adams. All three started that World Cup game against the Netherlands, with Pulisic and Adams still involved when Wright scored.

"I still see them as the people I met when I was 12 years old," Wright says. "It's hard to see Christian as some superstar. It's hard to see Tyler as a Premier League player. It's hard to see Weston as playing for Juventus. I just see them as people I knew back then. I've never felt uncomfortable or out of place with any of them - I just see them as my friends."

Time has changed them in some ways, but they share that same bond.

"We've all matured," Wright adds with a laugh. "Back in the day we used to pick on each other a lot more. We've all gotten more mature. When you come here [to the USMNT], it's kind of like you haven't been apart that long. Christian is the exact same guy I knew back before everything, and I'm the exact same person, too. It's great to see these guys and how their paths and lives have gone."

U.S. soccer fans know, too.  Pulisic went to Dortmund and got the rocket strapped to him, becoming one of the the biggest stars the American game has seen. McKennie and Adams became the midfield partnership that has defined the post-2018 era, and could define another as the USMNT marches towards 2026.

As for Wright, the road has been more winding. He didn't earn his first USMNT cap until June 2022, making a late push to make the World Cup roster just a few months later. He didn't feature once in 2023. Since 2024, though, he's been more of a regular, scoring five goals in his last 12 caps to stay in the picture. 

"To see that some players would be knocked down, some players would have their spirit gone, and I think just for him, finding his own path to get back in here is definitely one that's inspirational," McKennie said back in 2022. "It's something that I can kind of relate to. It's wonderful and exciting just to see him in here, and kind of sharing the same story at the same time."

Wright is now providing the type of production that many projected for him when he was first breaking through as a premier prospect. Progress, though, was never linear, and it certainly wasn't easy.

There were a few years in which Wright was living the meme. You've probably seen it: typical college guy's apartment. Chair, maybe a couch, TV, PlayStation and that's it. It's not necessarily that Wright wanted it that way, but that's what was on offer at the time.

At 17 years old, Wright signed with the New York Cosmos, who fostered his development until he signed for Schalke at 18. Once there, Wright scored 14 goals in 22 appearances for the club's second team while earning seven first team appearances. His first goal, ironically, was assisted by McKennie, as both looked poised for a breakout with one of Germany's most historic clubs.

"I was pretty naive back then, so I didn't feel the pressure per se," Wright recalls. "I was just kind of living day by day. If there was a day where I had a game, that was it. Same with training or whatever it may be. I wasn't focused on outside noise. I was just trying to be what I wanted to be. As a kid, I wanted to be a professional, wanted to be on the national team...

"We had Weston and Christian living close by. Nick Taitague eventually came, too, so we had a little group of people who were always around. That made me feel safe. I knew those guys for a long time already. We spent a lot of time off the field with each other."

While McKennie made himself a first-team regular, Wright soon figured out that he wasn't going to get the same opportunities at Schalke. So began his odyssey: a year in the Eredivisie with VVV Venlo, a year in Denmark with Sonderjyske and then two in Turkey with Antalyaspor. He hit double-digit goals in each of his seasons in Denmark and Turkey. It was never easy, though, as Wright was out of his comfort zone.

"I was in and out of the first team, and that's not really what I wanted at that age," Wright says. "Seeing Weston in the first team and having teammates doing the same thing, I just felt like I'd had a taste already and wanted to be in a first-team environment where I could grow and play. That was my reason for leaving. Then it was the Netherlands, didn't really work there. Denmark after that, and I started to play more. Then Turkey, same story and now, Coventry."

The nomadic life took a toll, but it didn't distract Wright's from his goals.

"Eventually, I got comfortable moving around every season," he said, "but I've never felt comfortable in the sense of thinking I'm more than enough. I've always wanted to strive for more. I've never wanted to be stagnant. I've always wanted to improve. That's all that I've tried to do."

After a run of six teams in seven years, Wright did find his home. In August 2023, fresh off a 15-goal season and a 16-goal campaign in Turkey, Wright landed with Coventry City in England's Championship. In the two years and change since, he's emerged as one of the league's top goalscorers. On the field, he's proven a perfect fit. The off-field fit has been great, too.

In Coventry, Wright now has a home. After so many years of bouncing, he has a house with his wife and son. The house is decorated, photos are on the wall and his son's room is set up. It hasn't always been this way but, through it all, Wright continues to produce. And, at the moment, he's producing at a rate higher than ever before.

Every striker sees things differently. Some say that, when they're in good form, their mind just processes things faster. Others say that their mind doesn't process things at all; everything just happens all at once. Wright finds himself more in the latter camp. When he's in this sort of form, it just feels like the universe is on his side.

"I just kind of find myself in the right position," he says. "I take the perfect touch to set up the perfect shot in the perfect area. Sometimes, people slip all of a sudden and the ball just falls to you. It's something where I don't really have to think much about it. I just naturally do what I've been taught to do my whole life, really."

Wright's been doing that often lately. Through 10 games, Coventry are top of the table. A big reason why? Wright's goals. He has eight, two more than anyone else in the league. After scoring 12 last season and 16 the year prior, Wright looks poised for his best season yet. Injuries derailed his Golden Boot chase last season but, if he stays healthy this season, that's a very realistic target.

And the form transitioned to the USMNT. Handed the start in the eventual 2-0 win over Australia after Folarin Balogun started and scored against Ecuador, Wright accounted for both of the team's goals in very different ways. His first was a confident finish, a driven shot that left veteran goalkeeper Matt Ryan with no chance. His second? A wonderful bit of finesse as Wright danced past a defender and curled his shot into the far post.

"You have players like Haji Wright, who was out in the wilderness, comes in, scores a couple of goals," analyst and former USMNT star Alexi Lalas told GOAL. "I still think that Balogun is the starter right now, despite what Haji Wright has done. But I do think that Haji Wright has immediately injected himself into the conversation."

The two goals against Australia extended a streak in which Wright had scored 11 goals in 11 games, for club and country.

"That's what you expect when you give an opportunity to a player," USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino said. "That is good news, to have a player that can compete for the World Cup. I say every time that we have the possibility to provide players, maybe they didn't play too much in the last year with us. But I think that's an important thing. For them to say, 'I'm here, I want to play and I want to be part of this team.'

"With performances like this, I think that, for sure."

Form, ultimately, is what will keep Wright in the striker race. Right now, it's on his side.

Off the field, Wright can be described as quiet. He's soft-spoken and a seemingly shy. He doesn't love getting recognized in Coventry but he gets it. He doesn't go out much. He's reading a lot right now, he says, and it isn't what you might expect.

"I enjoy reading. When I get some peace at home, and I have a kid now so it's difficult, but I like reading," Wright says. "I'm reading a lot of books my wife reads at the moment. A lot of love stories. Just a whole different genre. It's a lot slower. It's very calming."

Calm is important, particularly with the World Cup looming. Wright, for years, has been the model of consistency, scoring double-digits in each of the last five seasons across three clubs. He knows, though, that one dip in form is all it can take for a striker. That could be the difference between another World Cup and watching from home.

"If you're a striker and you're scoring, you're doing well," he says. "If you're not, they're going to say you're a bad player. We do our best to help the team in every way we can. If you're a striker that's not scoring, you know you're probably not going to be needed. It's tough, man. I do my best every game to try and contribute in other ways if I'm not scoring.

"I try to be a defensive monster or affect the game in ways other people can score, but the goals are always in our minds. If you're scoring, you're doing well."

There's a long Championship season ahead, and it will be a grind. Now in year three in England's second division Wright knows there will be highs and lows. He's riding a high now, and the goal is to keep it going for as long as humanly possible. That, ultimately, will get him closer to his ambitions - getting back onto that World Cup stage. He wants to live that fever dream again.

Wright wants a goal he can remember in a positive light, one that really makes a difference. He wants a chance to rewrite the ending. There are less than eight months remaining. The chase is on and, that, Wright says, is something he thinks about every day.

"I keep it all in my head," he says. "Every game, every training, I don't know why, but it's always there. I always think about it and every opportunity I get to get a step closer, I do my best to take that opportunity."