The United States Men’s National Team exploded out of a disappointing summer with a phenomenal first international window of the new cycle, reeling off four wins against quality opposition. However, the meaningful competition begins again, with Mauricio Pochettino enteringhis side into the quarterfinal round of the CONCACAF Nations League, seeking to claim the title for a fourth time. Haiti looks to play spoiler, with the program on an upswing and coming off a second World Cup appearance. Miami,
Florida’s Nu Stadium – a 26,700-seat venuewith a natural Bermudagrasssurface – hosts the first match; the latter fixtureis set for TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, a 26,000-seat soccer-specific stadiumwith a Kentucky Bluegrass 365 surface.
These are the 20th and 21st all-time meetings between the two sides, with the USMNT holding an 8-6-5 advantage and claiming the most recent result in the group stage of the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup (2-1). Ranked 84th internationallyby FIFA, Haiti finished at the bottom of a very difficult Group C at last summer’s World Cup, dropping results to Scotland (0-1), Brazil (0-3), and Morocco (2-4). Les Grenadiers (The Grenadiers) reached the quarterfinal round at the current competition by finishing in second place in Group A with victories over Trinidad and Tobago (3-2), Costa Rica (2-0), and the Dominican Republic (4-1) before losing to Los Ticos (0-2).
Replacing Sebastien Migne, David Badia was appointedto the manager role in August, with the “new captain of the ship” having“experience to match Haiti’s ambitions” and a “background centered on player development, coaching methodology, tactical organization, and building cohesive teams.” This is the first internationalstint for the 52-year-old Spaniard who previously worked at La Masia and patrolled the technical box for AEK Larnaca (Cyprus), Akritas Chlorakas (Cyprus), Lechia Gdańsk (Poland), and Ethnikos Achna (Cyprus). He has expressed pride in his squad and been describedas a “great gambler” by local observers.
Badia nameda 25-player roster for the two-leg series. Europe is home to 18 of the call-ups, while five are spread across the United States professional and amateur ranks. Notable absences include Hannes Delcroix, Garven Metusala, and Lovend’s Delinois.
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GOALKEEPERS (3): Alexandre Pierre (FC Sochaux), Josué Duverger (FC Cosmos Koblenz), Jonah Mednard (Wake Forest University)
DEFENDERS (8): Carlens Arcus (Angers SCO), Jean-Kévin Duverne (Omonia Nicosia), Patrick E. Nwadike (FC Spartak Trnava), François André Dulysse (KF Vllaznia), Kayden Pierre (Jong Genk), Carl Fred Sainté (El Paso Locomotive), Martin Expérience (FCV Dender EH), Duke Lacroix (Colorado Springs Switchbacks)
MIDFIELDERS (4): Danley Jean Jacques (Philadelphia Union), Dominique Simon (Hatta), Leverton Pierre (Académica de Coimbra), Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (Wolverhampton)
FORWARDS (10): Dany Jean (SC União Torreense), Josué Casimir (Dynamo Moscow), Ruben Providence (Bodrumspor), Louicius Deedson (FC Sochaux), Yassin Fortuné (FC Vizela), Kenny Quetant (Werder Bremen), Frantzdy Pierrot (AEK Athens), Wilson Isidor (Sunderland), Lenny Joseph (Ferencváros), Fafà Picault (Atlanta United)
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Badia has mostly used a 4-2-3-1 formationduring his tenure with “a team capable of keeping the ball, building attacks, and pushing back [the] opponent.” The game largelyflows through the left side, with a willingness to “take huge tactical risks by piling on the attacking positions.” The forwards are expected to “maintain constant pressure” on the opponent and play an endless series of crosses into the box.
Alexandre Pierre is the presumed starter and should maintain his spot as the number one for the foreseeable future, a reliable shot stopper who gets to ground quickly for his six-three size. The 25-year-old Sochaux goalkeeper is brave when coming off his line and will force his way through contact and the crowd while displaying excellent composure and placement when playing out of the back. There is also Cosmos Koblenz’s Josué Duverger, who got the nod in the second Nations League fixture against Costa Rica and displays solid athleticism and awareness, particularly on long-range efforts. The Montréalais has the quick reactions and spring to go all out when dealing with point-blank opportunities, although there can be rebounds that are surrendered and pushed into dangerous areas.
The effortlessly plug-and-play Carl Sainté slots into whatever position that the coach requires, driving the possession and taking as much time as necessary to make the right decision, shielding away pressure. He will also buzz to the inflection points and come away with a turnover before the opponent has time to react and has a dangerous curling free kick that causes problems for opponents. Omonia Nicosia’s Jean-Kévin Duverne can deploy on the outside and the inside, is a proven ball-winner who finds himself in the mix, will take opportunities to press forward. The Paris-born defender rises above the crowd for headers and makes the correct decision during possession, often keeping things safe and on the ground for the square option. François Dulysse of Albania’s Vllaznia ventures on long solo runs to advance his team up the field and will often sacrifice his body, going to ground for crucial tackles and shot blocks. The Kentuckian keeps on pursuing with inexorable drive even after getting beaten initially, fighting for every single possession and chasing all the way to the corner flag. Denmark-born Patrick Nwadike is the new kid in town and could be thrown directly into the fire, adding another dominant presence in the box who is always pushing into the final third. The 28-year-old Spartak Trnava centre-back covers significant ground at a rapid pace and exhibits the awareness to avoid dangerous touches and appear in the correct position for timely stops.
Martin Expérience is a highly involvedplayer with a constant stream of tackles and has come to be considered an “indispensable” part of the lineupdue to his reliability. The 27-year-old FCV Dender EH fullback can get very physical and take a beating when venturing up the pitch, thriving in the cagey, chaotic atmospheres that define CONCACAF. Angers’ Carlens Arcus is one of the key factorsin the build-up phase and hits a steady stream of passes at all distances while also progressing through his dribbling. He will go to great lengths to chase the ball and dip all the way into the center in order to win a header, operates as a shutdown artist on the outside, and has the quick step to make timely interceptions. Duke Lacroix of Colorado Springs Switchbacks has the athleticism to make bombing runs up and down the touchline and the delicate touch to sidestep challenges before pressing ahead. The former Penn Quaker can make a contribution in the final third with well-placed finishes, managing to score a “stunner”in the pre-World Cup friendly victory against New Zealand.
France-born Dominique Simon featured in two matches at the World Cup and both cleans up danger and also plays quickly out of the back when pressure hits a peak. Popping up whenever and wherever exists a need, his skill in the touch helps him to sidestep challenges and even make the occasional forward venture, having a desire to test goalkeepers at range. Danley Jean Jacques is a “strong box-to-box player who likes to break play up and join in the attack,” constantlymoving to get open and forming connections across the formation. The 26-year-old Philadelphia Union midfielder will drop all the way back to facilitate, look up the field to hit long balls, and occasionally take the initiative with solo runs into the final third. Despite being in his mid-30s, Atlanta United’s Fafà Picault is still capable of intense bursts of speed, receiving and breaking into the open space or even tracking back to surprise and overtake his opposite number. The former United States international is often stepping into the creative role and attempting to hit the final pass, ranging the width of the field in order to pick out a pocket of space. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde of Wolverhampton is a relativelyrecent addition to the program, bringing “an abundance of pace and energy” in “a game [that] is about progression and dynamism.” Total Football Analysis noteshis abilities to “read the play and make interceptions when needed” by “reacting early to regain possession for his side” while also operating “with composure and control” by not “often taking unnecessary risks.” Yassin Fortuné can slot into a few different roles and has the showy skill to skip past wrong-footed contesters, employing a variety of moves in the left-side half-spaces. His feather-soft touch enables him to bring down all manner of distribution and retain control, even when forced to hold off the diving and kicking harassment that can go unsanctioned by many an official.
“Very skilled in one-on-one situations” and “studying the movements of the opponent,” Ruben Providence “combines speed, technique, and dribbling skills” and makesan impactwith “excellent passing quality, pinpoint crosses, and precise finishing.” The 25-year-old Bodrumspor winger has the creativity and skill to feast on defenders and will also cheat toward the center of the area in order to create overloads and put himself in position for a shot. Sochaux’s Louicius Deedson provided crucial production during World Cup qualifying and should continue to play an influential role during this cycle, displaying his dynamism in all zones. He explodes out of his first touch and begins charting a course directly to the goal, while also having the presence of mind to set up teammates after drawing opponents out of position. Dany Jean of Torreense has “fluid movement and link-play intelligence,” checkingback in order to create an outlet for defenders under pressure and performing the hard yards of progression. The Port-au-Princien has the quickness and the agility to dart around potential challenges and will pressure the back line, wreaking havoc in the forward half by creating chaos. Back with the squad after starting two matches last summer, Josué Casimir is another dynamic talent who facilitates quick combinations by seeking to pass first instead of forcing the issue. The Guadeloupe-born attacker likes to keep the ball on the ground and will range across the width of the pitch in order to aid the cause or make himself available as an outlet.
Wilson Isidor joinedthe program in March and immediately made good with six goals in 11 caps, while also checking back and operating in a target role by winning balls and facilitating possession. The 26-year-old Sunderland striker scores in a variety of ways and has “technicality and physicality,” helping his team to bypass the press and going to battle against multiple centre-backs as the lone player up top. AEK Athens’ Frantzdy Pierrot has a big frame at six feet, four inches tall and is, as expected, a dominant aerial presence, winning the jostling of shoulders and getting on the end of crosses. He is constantly on the move and pushing to get open, seeking out crucial pockets of space or pouncing on available rebounds in the box with a surprisingly quick first step. Kenny Quetant of Werder Bremen is “well-rounded and technically gifted with plenty of pace,” doing what is necessaryto contribute to the cause with a hard-working mentality and smart reads. The Parisien will press with a ferocity and tracks all the way back in order to force turnovers, creating extra opportunities for his side and validating his presence even if the production is lacking.
The United States came out of the World Cup stronger than expected and should be considered the clear favorite to take the Nations League. Haiti is a program on the rise and could begin pushing to be a permanent fixture in expanded tournament fields, particularly with further use of dual nationals. Over a two-leg series, the stronger side should be expected to come out on top, but perhaps there is an upset in the offing.
The first match is scheduledfor Saturday, November 14th at 4:30 p.m. Eastern, 1:30 p.m. Pacific. Viewing options include TBS, truTV, Universo, HBO Max, Peacock, and FuboTV (free trial).
The second match is scheduledfor Tuesday, November 17th at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, 4:00 p.m. Pacific. Viewing options include TBS, truTV, Universo, HBO Max, Peacock, and FuboTV (free trial).
