Hadji Wright’s Journey to the World Cup Begins on Long Island

Hadji Wright’s path to the World Cup kicked off in memorable fashion on Long Island.

The U.S. international forward, who has recently been mentioned as a potential option to step in for Folarin Balogun—before Balogun’s suspension was lifted—was just a 17-year-old prospect when he signed with the New York Cosmos in 2015.

This club, once made famous by Pele during the North American Soccer League’s heyday in the 1970s, saw a revival in the 2010s, operating out of Hofstra’s venue in Uniondale.

The Los Angeles native traveled extensively to train with legendary players like Spanish forward Raul and midfielder Marcos Sena.

Aleko Eskandarian, a former USMNT player and assistant coach for the Cosmos, reminisced about how Wright initially faced challenges in his quest to reach the professional level.

During a summer match against the Cosmos’ B team in sweltering heat, Eskandarian remembered noticing Wright fidgeting with his cleats.

“I asked him, ‘Haji, what’s going on? Are you hurt?'” he recalled. “He replied, ‘No, the grass is burning my feet.’ I got him some water to cool off his feet. He played for another 10 minutes but then said, ‘Coach, I think I need to come off.'”

“The guys in the locker room joked about him needing to leave because of burning legs. At 17, he was probably just thinking, ‘Yeah, my legs hurt, but what can I do?'”

Even with such struggles, Wright’s natural talent continually shone through.

“When you see his size, speed, and first touch, you might think, ‘Well, he’s limited,'” Eskandarian shared.

Wright’s abilities soon drew attention from European clubs, leading to his move to German Bundesliga side Schalke in 2017.

Now 28, he’s played from the German Second Division to the English Championship and is set to compete in the Premier League next season after netting 17 goals to help Coventry City gain promotion for the 2025-26 season.

His journey with the USMNT has seen its share of highs and lows. He scored the lone goal for the U.S. in a loss to the Netherlands during the Round of 16 in the 2022 World Cup, but his inclusion in the team has fluctuated over the years.

Yet these experiences have helped him build resilience, which is why Eskandarian believes Wright could shine on home soil in the World Cup final if given the opportunity.

“He’s faced numerous questions throughout his career,” former Schalke teammate Nick Teitag said. “I think he can channel that into something positive.”

With Balogun available to play against Belgium and Ricardo Pepi second on the depth chart, Wright could inject new energy into the U.S. offensive lineup.

Compared to Balogun, Wright plays more like a traditional target striker, as Eskandarian described, noting that he “can get into the box and finish from anywhere.”

Standing 6-foot-4, Wright excels in hold-up play and could be particularly valuable facing a skilled Belgian team.

Both Eskandarian and Teitag concur that a striker’s mentality will be crucial if he gets the chance to play during the tournament.

“For 90 minutes, he maintains the same focus and determination, no matter the game situation,” Eskandarian said.

It all started with dealing with hot feet on Long Island.