The 18th edition of the Concacaf Gold Cup is well underway, with 16 nations vying to take home the trophy at the region’s premier competition, an honor currently claimed by a mere three programs. The United States Men’s National Team opened the competition with victories over Trinidad and Tobago (5-0) and Saudi Arabia (1-0), securing advancement to the knockout phase. To close out Group D play, Mauricio Pochettino leads his group against Haiti, with one point cementing a top seed. The match is set for Arlington, Texas’ AT&T Stadium, an 80,000-seat venue colloquially known as Jerry World with a “hybrid of grass and synthetic turf” surface.
This is the 19th all-time meeting between the two nations, with the USMNT holding a 7-6-5 advantage and claiming the most recent fixture (1-0) at the 2021 Gold Cup. Ranked 83rd internationally by FIFA, Haiti enjoyed an undefeated 2024 and reached the current competition by finishing atop Group C in the CONCACAF Nations League B with a 6-0-0 record, dispatching Puerto Rico (4-1, 3-0), Sint Maarten (6-0, 8-0), and Aruba (3-1, 5-3). Les Grenadiers (The Grenadiers) fared decently in pre-tournament fixtures, defeating Azerbaijan (3-0) in a friendly and advancing to the third of World Cup qualifying with a win over Aruba (5-0) and a defeat to Curaçao (1-5). The Gold Cup opened with a loss to Saudi Arabia (0-1) and a draw against Trinidad and Tobago (1-1).
Sébastien Migné was appointed to lead the program in March of 2024, taking what has been called an “impossible job” by the BBC but desiring to “write a new story with the players” by qualifying for the country’s first World Cup since 1974. The 52-year-old Frenchman has significant international experience, enjoying stints at the Republic of the Congo, Kenya, and Equatorial Guinea, most recently serving as an assistant with Cameroon. He is currently leading a strong qualifying campaign, spending the first few months of his tenure “using digital platforms to monitor” his team and “scouting for dual nationals.”
Migné named a 26-player roster for the Gold Cup, a group that features all of the expected talents. There is a single representative from the domestic Ligue Haïtienne, with 18 call-ups on the books of various European sides. Notable absences include Derrick Etienne, Ronaldo Damus, Stéphane Lambese, and Bryan Alceus.
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GOALKEEPERS (3): Johny Placide (Bastia), Alexandre Pierre (Sochaux), Garissone Innocent (Riteriai)
DEFENDERS (8): Carlens Arcus (Angers), Francois Dulysse (Egnatia), Ricardo Adé (LDU Quito), Garven Metusala (Colorado Springs Switchbacks), Martin Expérience (Nancy), Duke Lacroix (Colorado Springs Switchbacks), Jean-Kévin Duverne (Kortrijk), Wilguens Paugain (Zulte Waregem)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Daniel Saint-Fleur (Real Hope), Fafà Picault (Inter Miami CF), Louicius Don Deedson (OB), Dany Jean (Torreense), Leverton Pierre (Châteauroux), Danley Jean Jacques (Philadelphia Union), Belmar Joseph (Sion), Christopher Attys (Triestina), Carl Sainté (Phoenix Rising)
FORWARDS (6): Duckens Nazon (Kayserispor), Mikaël Cantave (Vancouver FC), Ruben Providence (Almere City), Frantzdy Pierrot (AEK Athens), Téo James Michel (Chateauroux), Mondy Prunier (Francs Borains)
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With a focus on “hard work,” Migné typically uses a 4-4-2 formation and has “adapted quickly to the environment, earning the trust of the players.” The squad features fast and strong forwards who are relied upon to “create opportunities on the counterattack,” while the defense has “displayed a newfound solidarity” in recent months. The team has struggled with slow starts, but the manager demonstrates a willingness to make radical tactical shifts in order to correct his errors.
Despite his advancing age, Johny Placide remains the number one for Haiti and should continue to lead the program through the next World Cup, potentially breaking Pierre Richard Bruny’s record of 95 caps. The 37-year-old Bastia goalkeeper made 34 appearances last season, helping the squad claim an eighth-place finish in Ligue 2 with his “calm, concentration, and fast reflexes.” Standing around five-foot-eleven, he is highly athletic with fantastic extensions that enable him to cover the length and width of the frame while also instantaneously reacting to short-range opportunities. While typically staying close to the line, his forays tend to result in success and his speed will surprise opposing attackers by beating them to through balls.
One of the squad’s veterans, Ricardo Adé is a fixture in the lineup due to providing bruising physical play with well-timed sliding challenges and clearing headers but also possessing incisive distribution. The 35-year-old L.D.U. Quito centre-back is artfully praised for “leaving his soul on every ball” with his passionate play, considered one of the great scouting coups when moving to Ecuador. With Jean-Kévin Duverne picking up a red card against Trinidad and Tobago, Colorado Springs Switchbacks’ Garven Metusala should factor into proceedings, described as having “great composure on the ball and intelligence reading games,” making him useful in both phases. He has the pace to cover the wings of the field or chase down breaking attackers but will also make the occasional foray forward, displaying adept dribbling skills.
Nancy’s Martin Expérience is constantly popping up in dangerous areas in order to make crucial interventions, tracking back or sliding centrally to help out teammates who have been beaten. The France-born defender is serviceable on the ball and will do his part to make intelligent passes during the build-up, adding another versatile option to the lineup. Carlens Arcus wins his fair share of headers and interceptions while also registering regular tackles and clearances, continuing to “make his mark” in Ligue 1 with “standout performances.” The 28-year-old Angers fullback looks to play vertically and will quickly move into transition with overlapping runs on the outside or aggressive passes to the attackers. New Jersey-born Markhus “Duke” Lacroix is a “mainstay in the USL Championship” with over 200 appearances across multiple outfits, providing stability and the occasional finish on a long-distance shot. He joined the program in 2023 and has already found the back of the net twice, against Barbados and Sint Maarten, but will also put in hard work and add veteran leadership.
Danley Jean Jacques is a “quick, physical player” who immediately became a key element for the Philadelphia Union at the six after moving over from FC Metz, swarming passing lanes and making crucial clearances. He maintains possession by avoiding pressure in front of the back line, darting around potential challenges or bullying through them, and arriving at the top of the box in order to finish. France-born Christopher Attys caught fire during the Nations League with three goals and three assists in five matches, pushing deep into the attacking third and oftentimes leading the counter. His finishes come in a variety of ways, whether making a late run for a conversion, dribbling around multiple opponents, getting onto the end of a cross, or latching onto the end of a through ball. For a more defensive option, Leverton Pierre is an excellent dribbler and maintains positional discipline by providing extra cover and rarely venturing too far out of his traditional zone. The 27-year-old Châteauroux midfielder adds stability during the build-up with simple short-range distribution, constantly on the move and making himself open in order to provide a safe outlet.
Former USMNT representative Fafà Picault boasts “top notch work rate out of possession” and “the ability to carry the ball out of difficult situations,” maintaining his trademark dynamism in his mid-30s. He can be a productive scorer with a well-placed shot, the athleticism to climb for headers well past the expectations of his five-foot-eight frame, and the pace to break into space on the counter. On the other side of the formation, Louicius Don Deedson blows past defenders with his speed and a variety of moves, finding his way into opportune areas with long solo runs. The 24-year-old Odense Boldklub winger could be making a move up the European ladder, as someone with his combination of creative panache and finishing can be a limited find. Torreense’s Dany Jean appeared in every fixture during the Nations League and contributed three assists, utilizing his evasive nature and darting movements to progress into the final third. The “technical” Port-au-Prince homegrown “goes 2000 miles an hour,” whether attempting to beat the opponent to the endline or wreaking havoc with a quick cut towards the center. Ruben Providence of Almere City joined the program in March after competing with France at the youth level, having spent time in the academies of Paris Saint-Germain and Roma and developing a “refined foot.” Siamo la Roma praises him for being “very skilled in one-on-one situations” with “great ease in running with the ball,” possessing the ability to “study the movements of the opponent and skip past him” and “create numerical superiority in the action.”
After multiple seasons of production, Frantzdy Pierrot has established himself as a double-digit goal-scorer in Europe’s top divisions, a reliability that has carried over to his time with Haiti. Standing at six-foot-four, he uses his imposing frame to carve out space in the box, jockey for position, bully defenders, and win headers, but also has the pace and creativity to progress the ball and distribute. Duckens Nazon is the top scorer in program history and shows no signs of slowing town after a torrid 11 international goals in 2024, possessing dogged determination to get off shots. The 31-year-old Kayserispor fox in the box has an almost magnetic attraction to the ball and continually finds himself in advantageous areas, simply requiring a few touches for a slotted shot. New Jersey-born Belmar Joseph is typically a center midfielder but has also received some inclusion at the top of the formation as an “all-around” supporting presence due to his “inch-perfect passes.” After time spent in the collegiate ranks with Villanova and North Carolina State, the teenager joined Swiss Super League Side FC Sion and has bounced between the reserves and first team, seeking to contribute with his “excellent handling and remarkable technique.”
After months of underwhelming results, the USMNT has done well to pick up two quick results to begin the Gold Cup. For the third match, Haiti is in need of a result and some help in order to advance, but the hosts are unlikely to ease off of the throttle. The match will potentially have a tight start before breaking open into a more wide-open affair following the first goal.
The match is scheduled for Sunday, June 22nd at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, 4:00 p.m. Pacific. Viewing options include FOX, ViX, TUDN, and FUBO TV (free trial).
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