Danley Jean Jacques makes World Cup debut

Plenty of players with World Cup experience have suited up for the Philadelphia Union over the years and four former players are currently on the U.S. Men’s National Team roster but Danley Jean Jacques became the first active Union player to play in the World Cup finals when he suited up for Haiti on Saturday.

Jean Jacques was in the starting XI for Haiti in their World Cup opener against Scotland in Foxborough, Mass. He played 90 minutes in the midfield and finished with a team-high 7.3 player rating on FotMob. Reading United alum Frantzdy Pierrot also started for Haiti in the match, won by Scotland 1-0 on a 28th minute goal from John McGinn.

The match ended a 28-year World Cup drought for Scotland and a 52-year drought for Haiti, which last appeared in the 1974 World Cup finals.

How much longer Jean Jacques will remain a Philadelphia Union player will be an ongoing question, given the number of eyes watching the World Cup. The Union acquired the talented midfielder for $1.6 million from FC Metz in France in August 2024. The 26-year-old has made 64 appearances with 6 goals and 3 assists in all competitions.

Olwethu Makhanya is potentially next in line to make a World Cup debut as an active member of the Philadelphia Union. He did not feature in South Africa’s 2-0 loss to Mexico to open the tournament. South Africa plays Czechia Thursday in Atlanta.

Matthew Ralph

Matthew Ralph is the managing editor of Philadelphia Soccer Now. He's covered soccer at all levels for a decade in the Philadelphia region and has also written for TheCup.us, NPSL, PrepSoccer and other publications. He lives with his wife and two young children in Broomall, Pa., but grew up in South Jersey and is originally from Kansas.

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