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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>USA defeat Jamaica 3-1</li><li>Wright scores extra-time brace</li><li>Berhalter shares story on striker's inclusion</li></ul>

Haji Wright ditched his family vacation! Gregg Berhalter reveals how last-minute phone call to USMNT hero - as he was about to board flight to Dubai - convinced Coventry star to play in Nations League showdown vs Jamaica

CONCACAF Nations League

Jamaica

<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/nightmare-usmnt-josh-sargent-suffers-ankle-twist-concacaf-nations-league-semifinal-jamaica/bltfaf8bbd94975d1e0" target="_blank">After an injury to Josh Sargent forced him to exit the U.S. camp</a>, Haji Wright was called in as his replacement, but only by a matter of minutes.After the USMNT's <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/usmnt-jamaica-player-ratings-haji-wright-gio-reyna-save-usmnt-concacaf-nations-league/bltd6cad74b9dd274c3" target="_blank">come-from-behind CONCACAF Nations League semifinal victory Thursday evening</a>, where Wright netted both strikes in extra-time to secure victory, Berhalter revealed just how close the U.S. was to missing out on securing the Coventry City striker for the tournament.Indeed, the U.S. boss caught Wright at the airport with his family, just as he was about to board a plane and head out on holiday.

WHAT HAPPENED?

"He actually got Coach's Man of the Match, and for good reason," Berhalter said. "You have to shake off the disappointment of not getting selected in the first place and then you come into the group and it's always a tough feeling because you feel like you're second choice. When I called him and told him he wasn't in the team, the message was, 'You're doing everything right, you can't do anything more so just be patient'. I told him that this camp, we opted for this but when we called him to come in, and I'll share this with you, he was getting on a plane to go to Dubai. He had a family vacation planned for the International break."So I call him and he was like, 'Well, I'm at the airport and my whole family's here, my agent's already there, my girlfriend, she planned the whole thing'. This really happened! What do you do, right? I said, 'Haji, I'm going to give you 10 minutes', I didn't give him a timer but I said, 'Let's hang up and you just think about it, process it. I know it's a lot of information right now for you to handle and I know you have your parents, the bags are packed, and you're at the airport, but just think about it for 10 minutes and give me a call back'."He called me back and he said, 'I'm in', and, when I heard that, it really shows what type of guy he is and what his character is."

WHAT GREGG BERHALTER SAID POSTGAME

Wright doubled his USMNT goalscoring tally Thursday evening, building on his effort in the 2022 World Cup knockout round loss against the Netherlands. His stupendous second-half cameo, alongside Gio Reyna - who assisted both of his goals - singlehandedly carried the USMNT into Sunday's final.He wasn't even supposed to be a part of this tournament, but an injury to Sargent gave him the opportunity, and Wright took it. With 15 goals and six assists across all competitions in the English Championship with Coventry City, he was a worthy replacement, but his performance Thursday put him in concrete contention for a role in the XI going forward.Now the biggest question ahead of the championship game involves Wright: does he start on Sunday?

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The U.S. will take on Mexico in the CONCACAF Nations League final Sunday, following their win over Panama in the other semifinal. With a victory, it will be a third-straight title for the U.S., as Berhalter's squad looks for their first trophy of the calendar year.

WHAT NEXT FOR WRIGHT AND THE USMNT?

Haji Wright ditched his family vacation! Gregg Berhalter reveals how last-minute phone call to USMNT hero - as he was about to board flight to Dubai - convinced Coventry star to play in Nations League showdown vs Jamaica | Goal.com Uganda

USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter revealed postgame that USA hero Haji Wright nearly missed out on Nations League camp due to a family vacation.