Danley Jean Jacques made history on Sunday by becoming the first Philadelphia Union player to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, securing his place in the Haitian national team’s 28-man roster for Qatar 2022. The 26-year-old striker’s achievement underscores the growing global reach of Major League Soccer and highlights the Union’s role in nurturing talent for international competitions. According to the Haitian Football Federation, Jean Jacques joins a select group of Haitian players competing at the World Cup, including veteran defenders Frantzdy Pierrot and Kervens Belfort.
The Union’s path to World Cup representation began in earnest during the 2022 MLS season, when Jean Jacques scored 12 goals in 34 appearances, earning him a call-up to Haiti’s preliminary squad for the tournament. His inclusion in the final 28-man roster—announced by Haiti’s technical director,