Peru Triumphs Over Haiti in Copa Friendly Ahead of World Cup

In a friendly match aimed at preparation for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, Peru, under the guidance of coach Mano Menezes, secured a 2-1 victory against Haiti at Nu Stadium, the home ground of Inter Miami, on Friday, September 5. This match served as a significant test for both teams as they gear up for the tournament.

Haiti, managed by Sébastien Migné, fielded a lineup that featured Placide, Arcus, Ricardo Adé, Delcroix, and Expérience in defense, while Jean Jacques, Deedson, Providence, and Bellegarde supported Isidor and Pierrot up front. Menezes, on the other hand, opted for a starting eleven that included the “Brazilian duo” of Carillo from Corinthians and Noriega from Grêmio, along with Gallese, Sonne, Garcés, Barco, López, Cabrera, Jairo Vélez, Concha, and Jhonny Vidales.

The match saw Haiti take an early lead when Sunderland striker Isidor scored in the 16th minute, marking the only shot on target for his team. However, Peru made a strong comeback late in the game. Garcés capitalized on a loose ball after a corner kick to equalize in the 81st minute, followed shortly by Jairo Vélez, who scored the winner after another corner situation.

Haiti entered this match following a convincing 4-0 victory over New Zealand and a 1-1 draw with Iceland. Their World Cup journey begins on June 13 against Scotland, followed by a match against Brazil on June 19 and then Morocco five days later. Meanwhile, this victory marked a crucial win for Menezes, who had not yet secured a win since taking over the team in January. His tenure commenced with a loss to Senegal (2-0) and a draw with Honduras (2-2). Peru's next test will be against Spain on Monday, September 8.