The U.S. men’s national team will play the first leg of their Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal against Haiti in South Florida rather than Jamaica after the Caribbean nation’s federation requested the change of venue.
Haiti was supposed to host a “home” match against the United States at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, on Nov. 14, but after Concacaf approved the request, the game will now take place at Nu Stadium in Miami.
The Haitian national team has not been able to play within its own borders since July 2021, following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, and in 2024, gangs took over its national stadium, the Stade Sylvio Cator.
The Nov. 14 match is the first of a two-leg series between the USMNT and Haiti, with the second match taking place at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati three days later.
“Under this exceptional arrangement, the FHF may be permitted to play its designated home matches in Concacaf-sanctioned competitions in the territory of its opponents, rather than being limited to the Caribbean region as required under the current regulations,” Concacaf said in a statement announcing the news.
“This flexibility will remain in place for as long as the security situation in Haiti persists. However, each match will require separate approval from the Concacaf Administration, agreement of the respective opposing Member Association, and confirmation that the selected host stadium fully complies with Concacaf’s stadium guidelines.”
The Concacaf Council approved Haiti’s request “due to the ongoing security situation in Haiti,” the federation said in the statement.
Haiti was originally allowed to host matches in other parts of the Caribbean due to the situation in the country, but North America and Central America had not been approved prior to Thursday’s announcement.
It had played its World Cup qualifying matches in various island nations, including Barbados, Aruba and Curaçao.
Haiti also recently hosted Nations League group stage matches in Kingston, Jamaica at the site where its match against the USMNT was originally scheduled.
The USMNT will be spending plenty of time in South Florida over the next two months, with the national team slated to close out the calendar year with a match against Jamaica on Dec. 13 at Inter Miami Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
