Starting next week, the Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship kicks off in Guadalajara, Mexico. Eight countries are fighting for two spots in this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Francois Dulysse, a defender drafted in the second round of the 2021 MLS SuperDraft, will be joining the Haitian National Team. Fellow defender Henry Kessler is joining the United States Under-23 National Team. Rounding out the call-ups is forward Tajon Buchanan, who was selected to join Canada.
The 21-year-old Dulysse has represented Haiti in the youth international levels, recording caps for the Under-20 and Under-23 sides. After signing with the Revolution II USL League One roster in December 2020, the Revolution pulled the trigger and drafted Dulysse in 2021.
Haiti starts off its group pay against Honduras on March 19 (3:30 p.m. EST). A possible match-up against future teammate Buchanan as Haiti squares off against Canada on March 22 (6:00 p.m. EST) and rounds out group play against El Salvador on March 25 (7:00 p.m. EST).
For Kessler, he’s looking for his first international cap in this tournament. The US kick off their journey against Costa Rica on March 18 (5:00 p.m. EST), then squaring off against the Dominican Republic three days later on March 21 (7:00 p.m. EST). Group play concludes against old rivals El Tri better known as the Mexican National team on March 24 (9:30 p.m. EST). All of the US’s group stage matches will be broadcast on FS1 and TUDN.
Kessler was selected sixth overall in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft after a stellar four-year career at the University of Virginia. As part of a stingy defensive group, he contributed to a club record goals-against average for the 2020 season along with leading the team in interceptions (34), tackles won (21) and possessions won (123). It was this outstanding body of work that led him to be the first rookie in team history to win the club’s Defender of the Year award.
Buchanan has been patiently waiting for his chance to represent his country. He was selected to the Canadian National team’s roster in 2020 but that tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Canada’s group play starts off with El Salvador on March 19 (6:00 p.m. EST). Its second group stage match is against Haiti on March 22 (6:00 p.m. EST) and ending its opening round against Honduras on March 25 (9:30 p.m. EST). All of Canada’s group stage matches will be broadcast on OneSoccer.
The Revs are in the middle of preseason camp and will continue to work out until March 24 before heading to Los Angeles, California for a five-game preseason tune-up.