The U.S. Under-19 Men’s National Team opened its 2026 CONCACAF U-20 Championship campaign in impressive fashion, defeating Haiti 3-0 on Saturday night in Puebla, Mexico. Despite an unexpected power outage that temporarily halted play early in the first half, the Americans remained composed and delivered a professional performance to collect all three points in their Group A opener.
The match took an unusual turn just 10 minutes after kickoff when approximately half of the lights inside Estadio Universitario BUAP suddenly went dark, forcing Canadian referee Michael Venne to suspend play. Players from both teams remained on the field during the roughly 13-minute delay, staying loose with light passing drills until power was restored and the match resumed.
Once play restarted, the United States quickly settled back into its rhythm and controlled possession throughout much of the opening half. Their persistence was rewarded in the 38th minute when midfielder Colin Guske carried the ball down the right flank before spotting forward Dino Klapija unmarked at the back post. Guske delivered a perfectly weighted cross, and Klapija calmly controlled it before firing a right-footed finish into the top corner to give the Americans a deserved 1-0 advantage.
The United States continued to pressure Haiti before halftime, creating several dangerous opportunities that resulted in multiple Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reviews inside the penalty area. However, none of the incidents resulted in a penalty, and the Americans entered the break holding a one-goal lead.
Haiti attempted to increase its intensity after halftime with a higher defensive press, but the U.S. back line and goalkeeper Kayne Rizvanovich handled the pressure comfortably. Whenever Haiti found openings, Rizvanovich remained composed while his defenders cleared away any lingering danger.
The decisive moment arrived just after the hour mark. Speedy winger Nimfasha Berchimas burst into the penalty area before finding Dylan Vanney in front of an open net after Haiti goalkeeper Carlos Bre came off his line. As Vanney’s shot headed toward goal, Haitian defender Stanley Volcin intentionally used his arm to block the ball from crossing the line.
The referee immediately awarded a penalty kick and showed Volcin a straight red card, reducing Haiti to 10 players for the remainder of the contest.
Rubén Ramos confidently converted the ensuing penalty in the 62nd minute, sending Bre the wrong direction and placing his shot into the lower-left corner to double the U.S. lead.
With the extra man advantage, head coach Gonzalo Segares introduced fresh legs off the bench while the United States continued dictating possession and creating chances. The Americans maintained relentless pressure throughout the closing stages, and that persistence paid off once again in the 88th minute when substitute Jayden Contreras was fouled inside the penalty area.
Following another VAR review, Santiago Morales stepped to the spot and calmly converted with a composed stutter-step finish in the 89th minute, sealing a convincing 3-0 victory.
The result gives the United States an ideal start to its pursuit of the CONCACAF U-20 Championship title while showcasing the squad’s maturity in overcoming unusual circumstances and maintaining focus throughout the evening.
The Americans will now turn their attention to their second Group A match against El Salvador on Tuesday, July 28, as they look to build on an impressive opening performance and move one step closer to the knockout stage.
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