Haji Wright delivers timely hat trick amid USMNT World Cup roster scrutiny

Since a two-goal performance for the U.S. national team in October, Haji Wright had labored mightily with his English team, Coventry City. At his lowest, the 27-year-old went 15 matches for club and country over three months without scoring — an eternity in the life of a striker.

On Monday, in a showdown between the top sides in the second-flight Championship, Wright roared back into scoring form with his third career hat trick as Coventry defeated visiting Middlesbrough 3-1 to reclaim first place after a prolonged rut.

The Los Angeles native scored in the run of play in the 21st and 55th minutes before completing the hat trick with a 71st-minute penalty kick, increasing his total to 13 — two off the league lead.

“When you’re a striker, you want to score goals,” Wright told Paramount+. “I was hoping to get back into form, and tonight was a great opportunity for that. … It was a great night to come out and show what we can do.”

The uprising ended a difficult stretch for Wright, who is vying for a return to the World Cup squad after scoring against the Netherlands in the 2022 round of 16 in Qatar.

During the October international window, he scored twice in a 2-1 comeback victory over Australia in Commerce City, Colorado. And then the goals dried up, both for front-running Coventry and for the U.S. in November. He did score in consecutive Coventry matches last month before coming up empty in the subsequent three outings.

Wright’s first goal came on a simple redirect at the edge of the 6-yard box. His second was an absolute gem. Goalkeeper Carl Rushworth punted a long ball. On the run, Wright fought off a defender and, as the ball bounced a second time, the American struck a left-footed half-volley from 9 yards into the far corner of the net for a 2-0 lead.

After Middlesbrough had halved the deficit, a handball led to Wright’s penalty kick and his first hat trick since March 2025 against Sunderland.

“I'm trying to be more consistent in my play,” Wright said, “so do what I do well and do it consistently and try to impose myself on the opposition. I'm a big frame, a big striker [6 foot 4], and I try to impose that on other players.”

With the hat trick, Wright surpassed last season’s goal total (12) and drew him within three of his Coventry debut campaign in 2023-24.

Wright received a rousing ovation when he left Monday’s match in the 82nd minute. Coventry ended a three-game winless streak and leapt over Middlesbrough for the top spot on the 24-team circuit with 14 matches left.

The top two will earn automatic promotion to the Premier League, with Coventry now six points ahead of third-place Millwall. Teams that finish third through sixth will advance to a playoff for the final ticket to the top division.

Coventry has not played in the Premier League since 2001.

Midfielder Aidan Morris played all 90 minutes for Middlesbrough, which experienced its first loss after six consecutive league victories. It is seeking to return to the Premier League for the first time in nine years.