Haiti defeats Cuba, keeping FIFA U-20 World Cup hope alive

Haiti reignited its quest for a first FIFA U-20 World Cup appearance Tuesday after the under-20 men’s team defeated Cuba 3-2 in a crucial Group A match at 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 needed to remain in contention for a place in the knockout stage. The tournament’s four quarterfinal winners will qualify for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

“We are happy with the win,” Haitian midfielder Miguel Joseph said in a post-match interview with Concacaf. “We played a very good game in the first half. In the second half, we conceded two goals due to a lapse in concentration, but were able to hold on in the end.”

Joseph said the team will celebrate the bounce-back from last weekend’s loss and then focus on the next match to earn its ticket to the quarterfinals.

Haiti now has three points after two matches and enters Friday’s group-stage finale against El Salvador in control of its own destiny. Either a victory or a draw will send the young Grenadiers into the knockout stage.

For now, the United States has all but secured first place in Group A standings with six points after defeating El Salvador 3-0 later Tuesday night. 

Haiti and Cuba are tied on three points, while El Salvador remains without a point after two matches.

For Haiti, a place in the knockout stage would move the team within one victory of history, giving Les Petits Grenadiers the opportunity to follow their seniors, who made their long-awaited return to the FIFA World Cup earlier this year for the first time since 1974.

For a Haitian soccer program enjoying renewed momentum across multiple age groups, the 2026 Concacaf U-20 Championship represents another chance to build on that historic breakthrough.

Cuba’s late comeback proved not enough

Haiti dominated much of Tuesday’s contest, especially during the opening 45 minutes. Based on Concacaf’s match stats, the young Grenadiers controlled over 60 percent possession and outshot Cuba 7-1 before halftime, taking a deserved 2-0 lead into the break.

Joseph opened the scoring in the 16th minute, pouncing on a rebound inside the penalty area after fellow midfielder Franco Celestin’s initial effort was stopped. Celestin then doubled Haiti’s advantage in the 34th minute, calmly converting a penalty kick.

Cuban striker Yankarlos Iglesias cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 80th minute with a well-struck free kick, raising the pressure on Haiti.

But substitute forward Da-Benz Jacquet restored Haiti’s two-goal cushion in added time, finishing from close range to make it 3-1 and what appeared to be the decisive goal.

Cuba refused to quit, however. Midfielder Robert Zerquera scored a second goal for his team three minutes later after connecting with a cross from Iglesias, but Haiti held on through the final whistle to secure all three points.

The win marked the second meeting between the Caribbean neighbors in Concacaf U-20 Championship history. Their only previous encounter ended in a 2-2 draw during the group stage of the 2015 tournament.

Friday’s matchup against El Salvador now becomes Haiti’s biggest match of the tournament. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. EST—still at Estadio Universitario BUAP in the Central-Mexico town of Puebla, about 80 miles southeast of Mexico City. This is where all Group A matches at this stage are hosted.