The 2026 CONCACAF U-20 Champions League hosted in Puebla, Mexico, delivered a pivotal moment for Haiti’s young men’s national team, dubbed the Grenadiers, on July 31. In their third and final Group A stage match against El Salvador’s Cuscatlecos at Estadio Universitario BUAP, Haiti pulled off a tense 2-1 victory to punch their ticket to the tournament’s quarterfinal round, marking their second win of the group stage.
Cuban head coach Raul Gonzalez Triana opted for consistency in his game-day selection, fielding the exact starting eleven that secured a dramatic 3-2 win over Cuba earlier in the group stage. The team lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, with goalkeeper Carlos Bré of Haiti’s Real Hope FA leading the backline, captained by Real Hope FA defender Arthur Alcimé. The starting squad featured a mix of domestic and international-based talent, with players plying their trade at clubs across Haiti, Jamaica, and the United States.
The match got off to a strong start for Haiti, with forward Clavens Exantus breaking the deadlock in the 22nd minute. Exantus clinically converted a precision through ball from winger Emerson Laissé to put Haiti up 1-0 heading into halftime. The narrative shifted dramatically in the 56th minute, when midfielder Shaun A. Brun was shown a red card for a foul inside the penalty area, reducing Haiti to 10 men and handing El Salvador a golden equalizing opportunity. Salvadoran forward Christian Coreas made no mistake from the penalty spot, leveling the score at 1-1.
Just 16 minutes later, second-half substitute D. Jacquet—who entered the match at the start of halftime to replace Nikolai Pierre—restored Haiti’s lead. Jacquet netted a well-placed header from the center of the penalty area off a rebounded attempt, putting Haiti ahead 2-1 in the 62nd minute. Haiti held on through the final 30 minutes of play, despite their numerical disadvantage, to secure the full three points.
In additional substitutions made during the match, J. Ortiz replaced Clavens Exantus in the 60th minute, J. Anglade came on for Ramy Fabilus in the 84th minute, and J. Charles replaced Emerson Laissé in second-half stoppage time.
After the conclusion of all Group A matches, the final group standings placed the United States atop the table with a perfect record of three wins from three matches, 11 goals scored and zero conceded, earning nine points. Haiti finished second with six points from two wins and one loss, having scored five goals and conceded six. Cuba claimed third place with three points, while El Salvador finished bottom of the group with zero points.
As Group A’s second-place finisher, Haiti will advance to the quarterfinals, where they are scheduled to face Costa Rica’s Ticos at Puebla’s Cuauhtémoc Stadium on August 5, 2026 (the date may shift to August 4 pending final confirmation of group stage standings, which wrap up on August 1). A win in the quarterfinal will see Haiti qualify for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup, marking a potentially historic milestone for the nation’s youth football program.