PHILADELPHIA – Former men's soccer standout Duke Lacroix '15 was recently named to Haiti's final 2026 FIFA World Cup roster and will represent Les Grenadiers during their first appearance in the tournament since 1974. Lacroix is one of four members on the squad that competes in the United States at the club level.

He earned his first international cap with Haiti in June 2023, when he made his debut in a friendly against St. Kitts and Nevis, playing the full 90 minutes in a 3-1 win. Lacroix's next pair of international appearances came in 2024 during a pair of World Cup qualifiers. He served as the team's left back during both matches and scored the first international goal of his career in a 3-1 triumph over Barbados on June 9.

This past fall, Lacroix was a mainstay for Haiti, notching caps in five of its six World Cup qualifying matches. He picked up two assists in a draw against Costa Rica and a win over Nicaragua, while playing the full 270 minutes of the team's first three contests. Lacroix helped guide Haiti to two final victories over Costa Rica and Nicaragua before a draw between Honduras and Costa Rica secured Les Grenadiers' spot in the 2026 World Cup. Overall, the former Quaker has registered 14 caps for Haiti and will look to add to that tally this summer.

Haiti begins its World Cup run on June 13 against Scotland in Foxborough, Mass. and its second match of the tournament against Brazil brings Lacroix back to Philadelphia where he had a lineage of success and fond memories as a Quaker.

The 32-year-old defender currently plays for Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in the USL Championship, where he's made 78 appearances and 64 starts in four seasons. During the 2024 campaign, he logged 2,692 minutes and was an integral member of the side that captured a USL Championship title. Prior to joining the Switchbacks in 2023, Lacroix competed with the Indy Eleven, Orange County SC, Reno 1868, Charlotte Independence, and Sacramento Republic FC.

Across his career in University City, Lacroix was a standout forward for the Red and Blue, starting in 67 of his 68 matches played. He earned All-Ivy honors in all four seasons, just the third player to do so in program history. Following an outstanding freshman season when he was named the conference's rookie of the year, he went on to earn Second-Team All-Ivy honors in his sophomore campaign after recording five goals and four assists for 14 points. In 2013, Lacroix was named the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year and garnered unanimous first-team status with eight goals and three assists. The New Egypt, N.J. native is the only player in program history to collect rookie and player of the year honors.

His best statistical season in Red and Blue was his final one, notching seven goals and six assists for a career-high 20 points. Lacroix finished his Penn career as a two-time NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) Second-Team All-Region member, and two-time All-Ivy First-Team honoree. He ranks sixth all-time in career points (65) and fifth in games played (68).