The US men's national team has been hit with some disappointing news. Forward Haji Wright will miss the rest of the Concacaf Gold Cup because of a left achilles injury. This comes as a setback for coach Mauricio Pochettino's squad, who have already secured their spot in the quarter-finals.
Wright made an immediate impact in the tournament opener, scoring in the 84th minute of the Americans' 5-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago. He came off the bench and needed just 11 minutes to find the net. Unfortunately, that will be his only contribution to this Gold Cup campaign.
According to Pochettino, the 27-year-old Los Angeles native arrived from Coventry City with the achilles problem already bothering him. "The problem increased the pain," the coach explained. Wright has now returned to his Championship club for evaluation and treatment.
Tournament rules mean the USMNT cannot replace Wright on their roster. This limits Pochettino's attacking options as the knockout stages approach, potentially affecting the team's chances of lifting the trophy.
Team Health Concerns Beyond Wright
The injury situation doesn't stop with Wright. There are also question marks around midfielders Tyler Adams and Johnny Cardoso ahead of Sunday's group stage finale against Haiti.
Adams is dealing with turf toe and only played the final 28 minutes against Saudi Arabia. Cardoso has been battling illness and made just a brief appearance in the 89th minute of the same match.
With the quarter-finals already secured, Pochettino might opt to rest both players. This could provide valuable recovery time before the more challenging knockout matches begin. The coach's selection against Haiti will offer clues about his strategy moving forward.
White House Controversy and Player Reactions
Off the field, there's been some attention on US national team players and politics. This comes after Juventus players, including Americans Tim Weah and Weston McKennie, stood behind former President Donald Trump during an Oval Office media briefing.
Pochettino lightened the mood by joking about not receiving a White House invitation himself. "Very jealous because we didn't receive an invitation," he said. "Maybe we will have the luck and they will invite, one day for sure."
Weah later clarified his unexpected participation in the event, saying: "It was all a surprise to me, honestly - they told us that we have to go and I had no choice but to go."
American defender Chris Richards offered a diplomatic response when asked about international events. "I think what makes America beautiful is we can all have different opinions, but kind of strive for the same thing, which is freedom in the prosperity," he said.
For now, the USMNT's focus remains on the field as they aim to finish the group stage strong against Haiti on Sunday. With Wright sidelined, bettors might want to consider how this affects the team's goal-scoring potential in the knockout rounds where competition will be fiercer.
