USA vs. Haiti, Olympic Qualifying: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread and More

Welcome to your live thread for the United States Women's National Team vs. Haiti in the opening match of Concacaf Olympic qualifying in Group A. The Yanks and Les Grenadières are grouped with Panama and Costa Rica and the round robin of group play will conclude Feb. 3, with the top two teams moving on to the knockout stage.

The U.S. is 6-0-0 in the all-time series against Haiti, most recently sweeping the Haitians in a pair of matches during the 2015 World Cup Victory Tour. Those were not close matches, with the United States pulverizing Haiti by 5-0 and 8-0 score lines. The other meetings were won by scores of 10-0, 8-0, 5-0, and 6-0.

The USWNT is riding a 13-game unbeaten streak (12-0-1) since a 3-1 road loss in France on Jan. 19 of last year.

The U.S. hasn’t exactly struggled in Concacaf Olympic qualifying either, posting a record of 18-0-1 while outscoring opponents 98-3. The lone draw was a 1-1 final against Canada in the 2008 title game and the USWNT went on to win the ensuing penalty shootout.

All of the above numbers indicate that it would require quite an upset for Haiti to even keep this match close. There’s no sugar coating it. Haiti is exceedingly unlikely to win this game.

The USWNT squad features three members of the Orlando Pride — goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris and defenders Ali Krieger and Emily Sonnett. Alex Morgan is pretty far along in her pregnancy and is not expected to be available until at least the pre-Olympic camp.

It’s a veteran lineup for the U.S. and only Lynn Williams and Andi Sullivan weren’t part of last year’s World Cup roster. This should pose big problems for a young Haitian squad that is currently 68th in FIFA’s world rankings. The Haitians got here by winning its Caribbean qualifying group. Forward Nerilia Mondesir scored four goals in a 10-0 rout of Suriname, with Batcheba Louis adding a hat trick. Mikerline Saint-Felix scored a goal in that game from the penalty spot and also scored in Haiti’s 2-1 win over Puerto Rico.

Haiti will try to put pressure on the U.S. back line when it drifts too high and use speed and athleticism in spurts. This will probably not work, as the U.S. tends to keep possession and grind teams down over 90 minutes. Still, anything can happen. Mostly.

Rosters

USWNT (Caps/Goals)

Goalkeepers (3): 12-Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC; 3/0), 18-Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride; 24/0), 1-Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 57/0).

Defenders (6): 7-Abby Dahlkemper (North Carolina Courage; 53/0), 19-Crystal Dunn (North Carolina Courage; 96/24), 11-Ali Krieger (Orlando Pride; 104/1), 5-Kelley O’Hara (Utah Royals FC; 125/2), 4-Becky Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals FC; 171/0), 2-Emily Sonnett (Orlando Pride; 40/0).

Midfielders (5): 8-Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars; 95/19), 9-Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC; 78/12), 16-Rose Lavelle (Washington Spirit; 38/10), 3-Samantha Mewis (North Carolina Courage; 60/14), 6-Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit; 15/0).

Forwards (6): 17-Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC; 162/32), 10-Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC; 288/121), 14-Jessica McDonald (North Carolina Courage; 14/2), 20-Christen Press (Utah Royals FC; 130/51), 15-Megan Rapinoe (Reign FC; 160/50), 13-Lynn Williams (North Carolina Courage; 21/6).

Haiti

Goalkeepers (3): 1-Jonie Gabriel (As Tigresses), 12-Kerly Theus (Aigle Brillant), 18-Madelina Fleuriot (Exafoot).

Defenders (7): 2-Soveline Beaubrun (As Tigresses), 3-Chelsea Surpris (Unattached), 4-Ruthny Mathurin (As Tigresses), 5-Tabita Joseph (As Tigresses), 13-Emeline Charles (Aigle Brillant), 15-Johane Laforte (Anacaona SC), 20-Kethna Louis (Le Havre AC, FRA).

Midfielders (5): 6-Melchie Dumonay (As Tigresses), 8-Dany Etienne (Fordham University, USA), 9-Sherly Jeudy (Anacaona SC), 14-Phiseline Michel (As Tigresses), 19-Angeline Gustave (As Tigresses).

Forwards (5): 7-Batcheba Louis (FF Issy Les Moulineaux, FRA), 10-Nerilia Mondesir (Montpellier HS, FRA), 11-Roseline Eloissaint (As Tigresses), 16-Abaina Louis (As Tigresses SC), 17-Mikerline Saint Felix (Montauban FC, FRA).

How to Watch

Match Time: 8:30 p.m. (ET).

Venue: BBVA Stadium — Houston, TX.

TV: FS2, TUDN.

Streaming: FOX Sports GO.

Twitter: For rapid reaction and live updates, follow @StarsStripesFC, @USWNT, and @TheManeLand.