Haji Wright a winger or striker at Copa America? Position of USMNT forward a huge call for Gregg Berhalter

The U.S. faces its biggest test of the last few years as they host the 2024 Copa America this coming summer.

With the tournament set to kick off June 20, Gregg Berhalter has selected his 27-player roster for the pre-tournament friendlies against Colombia (June 8) and Brazil (June 12). He will be required to pair that down to a maximum of 26 players come tournament time.

It was no surprise that in-form striker Haji Wright, who has scored 16 goals and assisted seven more this season for Championship side Coventry City in a promotion effort, was included on the roster. What was surprising was that Berhalter tabbed Wright for a position change with the national team.

The 26-year-old is one of the fastest risers in this U.S. player pool, but his best position will be up for debate as the Copa America arrives. Not only is his influence critical to the USMNT's performance in the competition, but his fit within the squad will also have a huge effect on where other players slot in.

The Sporting News breaks down where Wright will play at the Copa America, how it will affect the deployment of others, and where his future lies with the national team.

MORE: A full look at the USMNT roster for the 2024 Copa America on home soil

Haji Wright to factor in as winger for USMNT, Berhalter says

Speaking immediately following the release of the 27-man roster on May 20, Gregg Berhalter said that they see Haji Wright as a winger as they plan to attack the 2024 Copa America.

"Currently, we see Haji more fulfilling the winger role," Berhalter told the media, thus starting a wider conversation that creates a butterfly effect throughout the USMNT squad.

"Specifically, it's related to how he moves and how he is able to get chances which generally come from wider positions. With us lacking some depth at that position, we think it's a great option to move him into that position."

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Wright has been primarily a striker in his short career with the U.S. national team, and very successful in that regard. The Los Angeles-born player has four goals in nine international caps, including one off the bench against the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup quarterfinals, and a massive brace as a substitute against Jamaica in the recent CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals.

However, Wright has spent a significant amount of time as a left winger at club level this past season with Coventry City, after arriving from Turkish side Antalyaspor where he was a center-forward. As  Berhalter has been tasked with figuring out how to replace an injured Sergino Dest at right-back, Wright's fit within the squad will be a major factor in how they line up this summer.

Sky Blues fans went through every emotion before and after Haji Wright's penalty 🔵#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/GOOPDZ2D0E

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 24, 2024

Who will play at right-back for USMNT at Copa America?

The deployment of Wright out wide could be a big indicator as to how the U.S. plans to replace injured right-back Dest at the Copa America.

While Berhalter has numerous options at the position, none of them are terribly ideal. He can utilize natural right-backs Joe Scally or Shaq Moore at the position, but both have been poor in their time in a U.S. shirt, and while they will likely be given a run-out in the pre-tournament friendlies against Colombia and Brazil to prove they can handle the weight, Berhalter has to have other options in the event they both flop. Many of the other options, however, cause unhealthy ripple effects throughout the rest of the formation.

One possibility is moving right winger Tim Weah back along the defensive line, where he played for his club Juventus this past season, as well as with Lille a bit before that. The problem here is that losing Weah's pace and incision on the wing would harm the attacking unit significantly, as there are very few inspiring options to replace him up front — Brenden Aaronson has been largely poor for both club and country across the last calendar year, while moving Gio Reyna out wide means you lose his exceptional play in midfield.

This is where Wright slots in. The 26-year-old could slide into the lineup out wide, allowing the U.S. to move Weah to right-back without losing its attacking presence.

Best moment of the season for Tim Weah (he needed it) and one of the best of his career. Juve through to the final pic.twitter.com/FzG7LEDc0H

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) April 23, 2024

However, as with everything in this debate, there is a catch. Wright has largely played on the left for his club, meaning you either have to play him on an unfamiliar side wide right, or you leave Wright on the left and find somewhere else for Christian Pulisic, the regular left winger. Pulisic can play at the No. 10 position, but then you still have to move Reyna. Instead, Pulisic would likely move to the right, where he largely plays for his club AC Milan, but that still means a change from the norm with the national team.

Moving one player causes issues at another position, so too much shifting compounds the issues. Wright's installment on the wing seems to allow Weah to move back to right-back without too much issue, giving Berhalter a solid backup option if he decides Scally and Moore aren't cutting it at their natural position.

MORE: Full group draw and match schedule for 2024 Copa America in United States

Who will play striker for USMNT at Copa America?

With Wright on the wing, that likely leaves Folarin Balogun as the first-choice No. 9 for Berhatler and the United States.

However, Balogun has had a rough start to his U.S. international career, with just three goals in his first 10 international caps. The 22-year-old also struggled in his first season with AS Monaco, bagging just seven goals and six assists this season, including just five goal contributions across the final 14 games following a return from injury in mid-February.

Yet the return to prominence of Josh Sargent allowed Berhalter to take some liberties up front. Balogun is thought of very highly within the U.S. national team setup, but if he continues to struggle this summer, fans will be screaming for Sargent to get a chance. At Norwich City this season, finally healthy and playing his best position through the middle of the attack, Sargent scored a commendable 16 goals in 26 games, only pegged back by an ankle injury that cost him four months through the end of 2023.

Between Baolgun, Sargent, and third-choice option Ricardo Pepi, there are plenty of choices up front for the U.S., which allows Wright the freedom to move out wide.

"I just really tried to embrace my role this season" 🤝

Josh Sargent explains how Norwich have stuck together this season to secure a play-off spot 🟡 pic.twitter.com/ucBxp89bvH

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 12, 2024

USMNT roster for 2024 Copa America

A 27-player roster was revealed on May 20 by U.S. head coach Gregg Berhalter to participate in the pre-tournament friendlies against Colombia and Brazil.

For the Copa America itself, the roster will need to be trimmed by at least one, as CONMEBOL announced an expansion of squads to a maximum of 26 players.

Below is the 27-man squad announced by U.S. Soccer for friendlies against Colombia on June 8 and Brazil on June 12. Official 23-26 player rosters are due to be submitted by June 15, with the tournament set to start on June 20.

Caps are correct as of May 20, 2024. Age listed as of tournament start on June 23, 2024.

* On loan at listed club