On July 28, 2026, at Puebla, Mexico’s Estadio Universitario BUAP, Haiti’s under-20 men’s national team—affectionately known as the Grenadiers—pulled off a dramatic 3-2 win against Cuba’s “Lions of the Caribbean” in their second Group A clash of the 2026 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. The result marked Haiti’s first victory of the tournament, a much-needed confidence boost following a lopsided 3-0 opening defeat to the United States three days prior.
Heading into the match, Haitian head coach Raul Gonzalez Triana made just one forced change to the starting lineup that faced the U.S. Dieuvens Kenson Resil stepped into central defense to replace Stanley Volcin, who received a red card in the opening round loss. The full starting XI for Haiti featured goalkeeper Carlos Bré of Real Hope FA, captain Arthur Alcimé (Real Hope FA), Marckidens Tanis (AS Capoise), Resil (Mount Pleasant, Jamaica), Miguel Joseph (Exafoot), Ramy Fabilus (Real Hope FA), Clavens Exantus (Violette AC), Franco Célestin (Mount Pleasant), Emerson Left (Mount Pleasant), Shaun A Brun (Tacoma Defiance, U.S.), and Nikolaï Pierre (Orlando City, U.S.). Four second-half substitutions adjusted Haiti’s momentum: Jean Jules replaced Alcimé, Da-Benz Jacquet took Pierre’s spot, and J. Charles replaced Fabilus all in the 62nd minute, while E. Jean came on for Célestin in the 72nd, and K. Romulus replaced Exantus in the 81st.
Haiti controlled the pace of play from the opening whistle, and they capitalized on their first clear chance in the 16th minute. Miguel Joseph pounced on a messy clearance from Cuba’s goalkeeper to slot home the opening goal, putting the Grenadiers up 1-0. The side extended their lead just 18 minutes later, when Emerson Laissé drew a penalty inside the 18-yard box, and Franco Célestin converted the spot kick to make it 2-0 heading into halftime.
Cuba fought back hard in the final 10 minutes of regulation, finally breaking through for a goal in the 80th minute through Yankarlos Iglesias to cut the deficit to 2-1. The tight contest delivered even more late drama in second-half stoppage time: Da-Benz Jacquet appeared to put the game out of reach for Haiti with a third goal in the 92nd minute, pushing the score to 3-1. Just 60 seconds later, Cuba’s Robert Zerguera responded with a late goal of his own to make it 3-2, but the final whistle blew before Cuba could find an equalizer, handing all three points to Haiti.
Following the result, the Group A table sees the U.S. sitting firmly atop the standings with six points from two wins, having not conceded a single goal so far. Haiti and Cuba are tied on three points apiece, with Haiti holding second place on the current tiebreaker after scoring three goals and conceding five, compared to Cuba’s five goals scored and three conceded. El Salvador remains at the bottom of the group with zero points from two losses, having failed to score so far in the tournament.
Haiti will now turn its attention to its final group stage fixture, scheduled for July 31 against El Salvador. A positive result in that match will see Haiti advance to the tournament’s quarter-final stage, keeping its hopes of qualifying for the 2027 U-20 World Cup alive.