U.S. Under-19 Men’s National Team Kicks Off 2026 Concacaf U-20 Men’s Championship With Strong Win Over Haiti In Puebla, Mexico
U.S. defeats Haiti in group-stage opener amid 13-minute delay and red card
PUEBLA, Mexico (July 26, 2026) - The U.S. Under-19 Men’s National Team won 3-0 against Haiti in the opening match of Group A play of 2026 Concacaf U-20 Men’s Championship in a dominant performance that showed the resiliency of the squad to stay composed after a power failure to the stadium lights.
Half of the lights in Estadio Universitario BUAP unexpectedly shut off in the 10th minute, forcing referee Michael Venne to stop the match as the U.S. was pushing forward in transition. Both sides remained on the field, keeping warm with light passing and were eventually able to resume play after about a 13-minute delay when the lights came back on.
After the match resumed the U.S. midfielder Colin Guske was given plenty of space to dribble up the right side, he surveyed the field with patience and found forward Din Kaplija wide open camped out on the far post inside the box. Guske delivered the perfect pass from the right to Kaplija, who impeccably controlled the ball and buried a right-footed shot into the upper corner for the opening goal of the match in the 38th minute.
The half ended with one minute of extra time, both teams having an attempt on goal and a VAR review of three different plays inside the box after a relentless attack from the U.S. side, but no penalties were given by the referee.
Haiti looked to get back into the game with a high press in the second half and had a few shots that were handled with poise by U.S. goalkeeper Kayne Rizvanovich and cleared away by defenders before any real danger.
The Americans continued controlling possession and in the 61st minute, a very speedy Nimfasha Berchimas attacked on the right side, got deep into the box and made a pass that found Dylan Vanney. Haiti goalkeeper Carlos Bre came out to challenge leaving an open net, Vanney fired a shot down the middle of the goal, but Haitian defender Stanly Volcin used his arm to prevent the ball from going in.
Volcin had been given a yellow from a foul earlier in the match and was shown a red card for the handball leaving Haiti to play with 10 men for the remainder of the match. The ensuing penalty kick was taken by Ruben Ramos, who sent the Haitian goalkeeper the wrong way and delivered a confident strike to the bottom left post for a 2-0 lead on the 62nd minute.
After no changes in the line-up for both sides at the start of the second half, substitutions came on the 67th minute and the U.S. kept controlling the game and created several chances taking advantage of the Haitian side playing a man down.
The U.S. kept applying a high press in the 88th minute and won a penalty after second half substitution, Jayden Contreras was taken down by Haitian forward Tanis Marckidens inside the box.
Santiago Morales took the penalty after VAR confirmation, and with the stutter step sneaked the ball past the outstretched arms of Bre for the 3-0 lead in the 89th minute, giving the U.S. all three points in the opening match of Group A play.
Follow the U.S. Under-19 Men’s National Team as they continue their journey in the group stage and take on El Salvador on Tuesday, July 28 at 10 p.m. ET in Estadio Universitario BUAP, Puebla, Mexico.
All tournament matches will be broadcast in English on FOX Broadcast networks with select matches on the Concacaf YouTube channel. Fans can follow all the action on ussoccer.com as well as U.S. Soccer Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
-U.S. UNDER-19 MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-
Match: United States U-19 Men's National Team vs. Haiti U-20 Men’s National Team
Date: June 25, 2026
Competition: 2026 CONCACAF U-20 Men’s Championship
Venue: Estadio Universitario BUAP
Weather: 68 degrees, cloudy/windy
| Scoring Summary | 1 | 2 | F |
| USA | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| HAI | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| USA – Dino Klapija (Colin Guske) | 37th minute |
| USA – Ruben Ramos penalty kick | 62 |
| USA – Santiago Morales penalty kick | 87 |
Lineups:
USA: 1-Kayne Rizvanovich; 3-Joshua Torquato, 4-Chris Applewhite (5-Braden Dunham, 68), 20-Christopher Cupps, 2-Brandon Dayes, 6-Colin Guske (14-Javaun Mussenden,73), 8-Alexander Shaw, 16-Dylan Vanney (7-Jayden Contreras, 68), 17-Rubén Ramos (10-Santiago Morales, 82), 11-Nimfasha Berchimas, 9-Dino Klapija (19-Colton Swan, 83)
Head Coach: Gonzalo Segares
HAI: 1-Carlos Bre, 2-Marc-Arthur Alcimé, 4-Marckidens Tanis, 3-Stanley Volcin, 17-Shaun Brun (15-Jean Jules Mikenlove, 75), 5-Miguel Joseph, 11-Emerson Laïssé, 9-Clavens Exantus (14-Resil Dieuvens, 67), 8-Ramy Fabilus (13-John Peter Charles, 67), 10-Franco Celestin, 18-Nikolai Pierre (20-Will Leconte, 67) (19-Romulus Kervens, 77)
Head Coach: Raul Vlentin Gonzalez Triana
Stats Summary: USA / HAI
Shots: 8 / 4
Shots on Goal: 8 / 3
Saves: 2 / 2
Corner Kicks: 4 / 1
Fouls: 11 / 12
Offside: 0 / 1
| Misconduct Summary | |
| HAI – Stanley Volcin (Yellow card) | 15th minute |
| HAI – Stanley Volcin (Red card) | 61st minute |
| HAI – John Peter Charles (Yellow card) | 87th minute |
Officials:
Referee: Michael Venne (Canada)
Assistant Referee 1: Twayne Anderson (Canada)
Assistant Referee 2: Tristan Vermeulen (Aruba)
Fourth Official: Nikolai Nyron (Trinidad and Tobago)