Neil Pierres USMNT rise comes with a family twist as Haiti awaits in Nations League

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — Neil Pierre’s second U.S. call-up is monumental because, at just 18, he has clearly caught coach Mauricio Pochettino’s eye in this new World Cup cycle.

With Pochettino seeking solutions in a thin central defense, a candidate sporting basketball height and soccer feet — not to mention a head for scoring in the air — has stepped to the forefront of roster competition.

Advertisement

But Pierre’s return to the national training center near Atlanta this week also carries personal meaning because of the CONCACAF Nations League opponent that awaits the U.S. for a two-leg quarterfinal starting this weekend: Haiti.

Pierre is the son of Haitian immigrants who arrived in New York when they were 17 and built a life in Pennsylvania — an upbringing that led to a homegrown contract with the Philadelphia Union almost two years ago and a steady ascent in the U.S. system.

There is also dueling family allegiances as his older brother, Nelson, has represented Haiti’s under-20 program.

“There has been a little talk, and he was like, ‘Hey, I want you to win. I want you to do the best, but I do also hope Haiti does a little thing,'” Neil said Monday.

Advertisement

Nelson, who has not played for the Haitian senior squad, is a 21-year-old center back who also came through Philadelphia’s rich pipeline. He is now on loan from Major League Soccer’s Vancouver Whitecaps to HFX Wanderers in the Canadian Premier League after a temporary spell with second-division FC Tulsa.

“It’s definitely a little back and forth between me and him,” Neil said, “but it’s brotherly love.”

He said his parents are “very, very happy and excited … having their son play against that country [where they were born] at the highest level.”

The first leg is Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, TBS) in Miami, Haiti’s home leg in front of an expat-heavy crowd. (Haiti isn’t allowed to play in Port-au-Prince because of security issues.) The decisive leg is Nov. 17 in Cincinnati.

Advertisement

Pierre has strong ties to family living in the U.S. and on the Caribbean island.

“I couldn’t count on my hands how many,” he said.

Asked by team spokesman Michael Kammarman during the media session Monday if he could come up with a total using his hands and feet, Neil turned to teammate Mark McKenzie and said, “I would need his hands and toes.”

While his brother pursued an international career with Haiti, Neil said he has “always been focused” on the U.S. program and not the Haitians’, which this past summer made its first World Cup appearance since 1974.

Neil grew up in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, 80 miles northwest of Philadelphia, before the family moved to the Philly suburb of Blue Bell, in order to shorten Nelson’s commute to the Union academy.

Advertisement

After serving with youth national teams for four years, Neil debuted with the U.S. senior squad as a sub in a Sept. 26 friendly against Peru — the first of his three appearances in the USMNT’s first post-World Cup window. He was among 13 players to receive their first caps during a four-game sweep.

“He’s a player who’s shown, for his age, just a lot of maturity,” said McKenzie, a 27-year-old center back who also came through the Philadelphia academy and, in January, will return to the Union after six years in Europe. “That’s something that sticks out — his poise, his understanding in reading the game, a player who has the belief in himself, the confidence in himself to go and play at the highest levels.”

Pierre’s presence is conspicuous. The Union lists him at 6-7, the U.S. Soccer Federation at 6-5. He says he is 6-6½, making him one of the tallest in program history. (His brother is listed at just 6-1.) Accordingly, four of his five regular-season goals this year have come on headers.

Beyond physical attributes, Pierre has developed ball skills and decision-making to a point where Pochettino was compelled to involve him with the senior squad.

Advertisement

Pierre is also a prime candidate for the under-23 team, which in 2028 will become the U.S. Olympic team for the Los Angeles Summer Games. (Olympic men’s soccer is age restrictive, aside from three overage players.) The U-23 squad is also gathering this week, in Spain for friendlies against Scotland and Ukraine.

“I had no sense [which camp he would be joining], but anytime I represent the badge, I’ll be honored and I’ll be excited for wherever I go,” he said.

And while some of Pochettino’s young call-ups from earlier this fall were assigned to the junior team, Pierre was among seven to remain with the senior squad. The holdovers also include Philadelphia teammate Cavan Sullivan, a 17-year-old forward who, earlier this fall, became the youngest scorer in program history.

Pierre’s audition comes as Pochettino addresses backline questions. World Cup captain Tim Ream retired. Miles Robinson missed camp because of injury. Auston Trusty was called up despite sitting out several weeks following his father’s death. McKenzie was a late replacement for the injured George Campbell. That leaves World Cup starters Chris Richards, Alex Freeman and Pierre.

Advertisement

Pierre made his first U.S. start Sept. 29 against Chile, partnering with Robinson for a 4-2 victory in St. Louis.

“For the second time around, definitely, I still have the same confidence, and I think that comes from the players,” he said. “Each and every player is giving you confidence of like, ‘Hey, you’re back again for a reason. Just keep doing what you’re doing and then you’ll go wherever you need to go.'”

Starting his second coaching term, Pochettino has made a point of bringing young players into the fold. Even if they aren’t called up regularly, they will gain experience at the top level, learn what is expected at training camp and embrace the culture that Pochettino began forging upon his appointment in the fall of 2024.

“It’s very open — the national team is open,” Pochettino said. “We are following more than 100 players. Plenty of players maybe didn’t have the chance [earlier], but I think it’s important now.”

Advertisement

Pierre has a role model in McKenzie, who was among numerous to parlay Philadelphia academy experience into pro contracts. McKenzie, who wasn’t invited to U.S. camp earlier this fall, is finishing his stint as a regular starter for Toulouse in France’s Ligue 1 before he returns to MLS this winter.

“That was a dream of mine to be exactly where Mark was, and I think I slowly started to do that,” Pierre said. “Having him back [in Philadelphia] would be a full circle moment for me. Now we’re training together [with the U.S.] — get familiar with his type of game, adapt to each other, learn things about each other and then bring it back to the pitch in Philly.”

Advertisement

From afar, McKenzie has admired Pierre’s rise.

“He’s showing all the right things,” he said. “He has all the tools to be a top defender, not just in MLS, but he can do it abroad as well and at the international level. … He’s got a ways to go, but no doubt about it, he’ll live up to the expectations.”