Soccer players aren’t always natural fits when it comes to USA sports stars entering the Halls of Fame.

But one man making a name for himself on both sides of the Atlantic and a potential future Hall of Famer is Haji Wright. The in-form striker booked his Coventry City side a place at Wembley in the semi-final of the FA Cup with an injury-time winner against Premier League Wolves, and he has also starred for the USMNT in the recent CONCACAF Nations Cup.

Chance to impress

Wright has taken a surprisingly unconventional route throughout his career. And if he puts on another five-star performance in the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United, it could lead to a big-money transfer to the English Premier League. Sadly for Wright and his Coventry City side, they are not expected to go any further in the FA Cup. In the latest betting, Manchester City are -163 to lift the trophy. Manchester United are second at +225, Chelsea are +600, and Coventry are +2800. In the sports betting to win the match with United, Coventry is +475, and United is -225.

The bookmakers are saying this is as far as Wright’s Coventry City will go.

Natural progression

Haji Wright’s season at Coventry City won’t have gone unnoticed.

Also known as the Sky Blues, Coventry ply their trade in the English Championship, the second tier of English soccer behind the Premier League. In the 2022/23 season, the Sky Blues made it to the playoff final and were within a couple of penalty kicks of reaching the Premier League.

The spearhead of the team was Swedish international forward Viktor Gyökeres. After the playoff final, Gyökeres made it clear he wanted to leave. He was too good for second-tier soccer, and everybody connected with Coventry City, and the player knew this.

The Premier League clubs balked at the £20 million price tag Coventry City placed on his head. Eventually, Sporting Lisbon paid the fee, and Gyökeres went to Portugal. The Swede has been ripping it up on the continent and is now one of the hottest properties in Europe, with Premier League clubs now rumored to be willing to pay £85 million to meet his release clause price.

Playing at Coventry won’t hinder Wright’s chances of a big-money move. And after the exploits of Gyökeres, the Premier League clubs might be more willing to pay the asking price.

Worldwide shop window

England’s FA Cup is one of the most watched and famous soccer competitions around the world. Okay, Wright isn’t in the final. But when he lines up for Coventry City in the semi-final, he will be taking on Manchester United.

The eyes of the soccer world will be on the match. And Wright has a great chance to showcase his talents and gain the attention of some of Europe’s bigger clubs.

Unconventional route

Wright has never played in the MLS. As a youngster, he was on the books of the LA Galaxy but left to play for the New York Cosmos, where he represented the team three times.

He left the USA and worked his way to Coventry City via FC Schalke 04, SV Sandhausen, VVV-Venlo, Sønderjyske Fodbold, and Antalyaspor. With the money and improved prestige of the MLS, the LA native might end up playing in the US.

But for now, he is doing just fine in England.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup is finally underway, and there have already been plenty of stunning results. Qatar became the first host nation in the history of the tournament to lose their opening game when they were defeated by Ecuador in the competition’s curtain raiser. North African nations Tunisia and Morocco both managed goalless draws against European powerhouses Denmark and Croatia. 

But the biggest talking points so far are without a doubt the gobsmacking defeats suffered by Argentina and Germany. The two nations have six FIFA World Cup trophies between them and both were expected to impress on football’s greatest stage. 

Early World Cup upsets

On day three, Lionel Messi’s Albiceleste were humbled by a determined Saudi Arabia. The 33/1 underdogs managed to overturn a 1-0 halftime deficit within five minutes of the restart to secure a 2-1 victory. At one point, the Saudis were 500/1 to pick up the victory, not quite the price that Leicester City were at when they themselves shocked the footballing world in 2016. But Saudi Arabia’s victory is probably the most shocking result in the 92-year history of the World Cup, and belongs on lists of football's biggest upsets.

The following day, it was the turn of Die Mannschaft. The Germans were embarrassed four years ago when they exited the tournament in the group stage after heading to Russia as reigning champions. Throughout the first 60 minutes of their opening game with Japan, it looked like those ghosts were going to be firmly put to rest thanks to a dominant display. Instead of being put to rest, those ghosts reared their heads once again. The Blue Samurai’s netted twice in the last 15 minutes to pick up a stunning 2-1 victory of their own. 

The USA’s campaign began on day two of the tournament, and they were keen to avoid an upset of their own. Despite taking an early lead, they were pegged back late on by Wales courtesy of a penalty from LAFC star Gareth Bale, the game finishing in a 1-1 draw. As such, the Stars and Stripes World Cup dream hangs in a balance. But as you are about to see, the USMNT certainly has pedigree on the world stage. 

USA make second round three times in last four appearances

While the 1-1 draw in Al Rayyan against the Red Dragons was disappointing, it was nothing compared to the humiliation of four years ago, when a 2-0 defeat in the final qualifying game against Trinidad & Tobago - who hadn’t won a game all campaign - meant that the USMNT missed the World Cup for the first time since 1986. Prior to that, the US had been impressive at the World Cup, including pulling off a huge upset victory against England courtesy of a goal from Joe Gaetjens. 

In 2014, they finished ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in the group stages, knocking them out of the tournament in the process and securing a last-16 tie with Belgium. While the Red Devils were heavy favorites to progress, the USMNT gave them all they could handle, eventually succumbing to an extra-time defeat. 

Four years prior to that, the United States once again reached the second round thanks to Landon Donovan’s heroics in the final group game against Algeria. His last-gasp winner sent Bob Bradley’s side into the second round. However, more extra time heartbreak would await thanks to Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan. His goal set the Black Stars on the way to a quarterfinal date with Uruguay, while Donovan and co. headed home. 

But Donovan’s coming out party came eight years before the 2010 tournament in South Africa. Back in 2002, he was awarded the tournament's Best Young Player award as the US stunned everyone to reach the quarterfinals. They once again finished ahead of Portugal - this time with Luis Figo as their main man - to secure a spot in the second round. There, they would defeat archrivals Mexico 2-0, winning their first and only World Cup knockout game in the process. 

This year, the USA have two games remaining against Iran - who famously defeated them at France ‘98 - and then England. A win and a draw would probably see the current crop through to the second round, and who knows where beyond there? 

As soon as Leeds United secured Premier League safety on a dramatic final day of the soccer season, the West Yorkshire club announced the signing of long-term target Brenden Aaronson. The 21-year-old is expected to slot straight into the first team and breath some life into a misfiring attack.

This is not only a good move for the player, but it’s also a promising sign for the USA men’s national team. There are various new players gaining vital experience in Europe now, and this will help the side’s chances in the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.

The Latest USA Player to Grace the Premier League

There have been 48 USA internationals in the Premier League up to now, but it’s hard to think of many names that have set the division alight. The most notable player in recent years is Christian Pulisic, but his time with Chelsea has been plagued with injuries. When fit, however, he’s usually one of the first names on the team sheet under Thomas Tuchel.

Tim Howard and Brad Friedel are the most familiar faces to English soccer fans, and both spent over a decade in the English top tier. There’s also Clint Dempsey, who scored 50 goals for Fulham in 189 league appearances.

Aaronson is one of the latest players to cut their teeth in the MLS and then move to Europe to gain more experience. The Medford-born player spent a season and a half at Red Bull Salzburg, establishing himself as a first-team regular and cropping up with vital goals and assists in the Austrian Bundesliga and Champions League.

The promising soccer player drew the attention of Leeds because of his intense work rate and high-pressing style. His attributes were identified by former manager Marcelo Bielsa, and he also fits perfectly into Jesse Marsch’s system. He appears to be an upgrade on all the players that Leeds currently have in his position and he could have an extremely bright future ahead of him.

Aaronson’s Signing Likely to Allure More American Fans to Leeds

Aaronson’s move is likely to be beneficial from a commercial standpoint for Leeds and the USMNT. There’s no doubt that his and Marsch’s presence will draw more American fans to support Leeds. That will also be helped by the interest of the San Francisco 49ers, who currently own a 44 percent stake in the Elland Road club.

American soccer fans can already place outright bets on United’s fortunes in the upcoming season and can speculate over whether Aaronson’s arrival will help push them up the table. At the time of writing, Leeds can be found at around 4/1 to finish in the top half. Obviously, American odds in the moneyline format are preferred by American bettors, where they’d be transcribed as +400. This is arguably easier to understand, as they are written with a plus or a minus symbol. This indicates the amount you need to wager to win $100 or the amount you would win for every $100 staked. For example, if it’s +400 you win $400 if you stake $100. For gamers who are interested, the website explains this betting method and others.

Along with bringing more American eyes to Leeds and the Premier League, Aaronson’s move will increase interest in the USMNT among the West Yorkshire fanbase. These supporters didn’t have a reason to watch American soccer before but may now show a keener interest in the fortunes of their new player and his teammates.

Other American Players Making Waves in Europe

The great news for American soccer is that Aaronson isn’t the only up-and-coming player who is gaining vital experience in the top leagues of Europe. In the past, the USMNT was mainly made up of MLS stars. With the North American league notoriously being of a lower standard than European divisions, this has been detrimental to progress on the world stage. This could be set to change, though.

Tyler Adams is another well-known name in Europe, and the defensive midfielder has become a mainstay in the center of the park for RB Leipzig. Timothy Weah is one of the most exciting prospects for the future of American soccer, and he’s currently plying his trade for Lille in Ligue 1. There are plenty of others on different teams and top divisions too.

Leeds fans will be excited to see their new $30 million signing terrorizing defenses in the English top flight. If Aaronson can hit the ground running, he could usher in a new era at Elland Road and have the Whites looking up the league table. The player will also gain vital skills that he can bring to the world stage for the USMNT.