Haiti reignited its quest for a primary FIFA U-20 World Cup look Tuesday after the under-20 males’s staff defeated Cuba 3-2 in a vital Group A match on the 2026 Concacaf Championship in Puebla, Mexico.
Three days after a 3-0 opening loss to the United States, Les Petits Grenadiers responded with the victory they wanted to stay in rivalry for a spot within the knockout stage. The match’s 4 quarterfinal winners will qualify for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
“We’re proud of the win,” Haitian midfielder Miguel Joseph stated in a post-match interview with Concacaf. “We performed an excellent recreation within the first half. Within the second half, we conceded two targets because of a lapse in focus, however had been capable of maintain on in the long run.”
Joseph stated the staff will have fun the bounce-back from final weekend’s loss after which give attention to the following match to earn its ticket to the quarterfinals.
Haiti now has three factors after two matches and enters Friday’s group-stage finale in opposition to El Salvador answerable for its personal future. Both a victory or a draw will ship the younger Grenadiers into the knockout stage.
For now, the USA has all however secured first place in Group A standings with six factors after defeating El Salvador 3-0 later Tuesday night time.
Haiti and Cuba are tied on three factors, whereas El Salvador stays with out a level after two matches.
For Haiti, a spot within the knockout stage would transfer the staff inside one victory of historical past, giving Les Petits Grenadiers the chance to comply with their seniors, who made their long-awaited return to the FIFA World Cup earlier this yr for the primary time since 1974.
For a Haitian soccer program having fun with renewed momentum throughout a number of age teams, the 2026 Concacaf U-20 Championship represents one other likelihood to construct on that historic breakthrough.
Cuba’s late comeback proved not sufficient
Haiti dominated a lot of Tuesday’s contest, particularly throughout the opening 45 minutes. Based mostly on Concacaf’s match stats, the younger Grenadiers managed over 60 % possession and outshot Cuba 7-1 earlier than halftime, taking a deserved 2-0 lead into the break.
Joseph opened the scoring within the sixteenth minute, pouncing on a rebound contained in the penalty space after fellow midfielder Franco Celestin’s preliminary effort was stopped. Celestin then doubled Haiti’s benefit within the thirty fourth minute, calmly changing a penalty kick.
Cuban striker Yankarlos Iglesias minimize the deficit to 2-1 within the eightieth minute with a well-struck free kick, elevating the strain on Haiti.
However substitute ahead Da-Benz Jacquet restored Haiti’s two-goal cushion in added time, ending from shut vary to make it 3-1 and what gave the impression to be the decisive objective.
Cuba refused to give up, nevertheless. Midfielder Robert Zerquera scored a second objective for his staff three minutes later after connecting with a cross from Iglesias, however Haiti held on by means of the ultimate whistle to safe all three factors.
The win marked the second assembly between the Caribbean neighbors in Concacaf U-20 Championship historical past. Their solely earlier encounter resulted in a 2-2 draw throughout the group stage of the 2015 match.
Friday’s matchup in opposition to El Salvador now turns into Haiti’s largest match of the match. Kickoff is scheduled for five p.m. EST—nonetheless at Estadio Universitario BUAP within the Central-Mexico city of Puebla, about 80 miles southeast of Mexico Metropolis. That is the place all Group A matches at this stage are hosted.
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