The CONCACAF Gold Cup heads into its second round of matches this week, and Group B will feature one of the biggest games of the group stage.
Less than a month after Canada defeated Haiti over two legs to advance in World Cup qualifying, the two teams meet again, this time with a spot in the Gold Cup knockout stages likely on the line.
Can Canada make it three out of three against Haiti in 2021 and secure their spot in the quaterfinals? Check out our Haiti vs. Canada tips and predictions for July 15.
Haiti vs Canada game info
• Location: Children's Mercy Park, Kansas City, KS
• Date: Thursday, July 15, 2021
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: FS1
Haiti vs Canada betting tips
- Canada (-275)
- Cyle Larin - Anytime goalscorer (+115)
Read on for complete analysis
Haiti vs Canada match odds
Haiti: +700
Canada: -275
Draw: +320
Total: 2.5
Over 2.5: -134
Under 2.5: +105
Haiti vs Canada betting preview
Weather
Scattered thunderstorms and 45 percent of rain are in the forecast on Thursday evening in Kansas City, with temperatures expected around 80 degrees Fahrenheit with 75 percent humidity.
Key injuries
Haiti: Jems Geffrard (Questionable), Frantzdy Pierrot (Questionable).
Canada: No injuries to report.
Haiti vs Canada predictions
Moneyline pick
Regardless of how Canada's Gold Cup goes, 2021 has already been a success for the program. For the first time in 25 years, they reached the final stage of World Cup qualifying in the region. Pertinent for this specific matchup, they did so by beating Haiti 1-0 in Port-au-Prince then 3-0 in the return leg. Canada can complete their revenge on Haiti, after a crushing 3-2 loss in the quarterfinals of the 2019 Gold Cup, with a win on Thursday that would all but see them advance and Haiti eliminated.
Despite the names missing for Canada at the Gold Cup, most prominently Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David, they should feel quite confident of picking up a third victory over Haiti in 2021. After a resounding 4-1 win over Martinique, Canada are currently atop the group, with the United States just sneaking by Haiti 1-0 and thus behind on goal differential. That 4-1 win saw Canada's clean-sheet streak of nearly 500 minutes ended at the 10-minute mark, but by 26 minutes played, Canada was ahead 3-1 and in complete control.
David, one of the most promising young attackers in Europe, was hardly a miss for the Canadians. In his place, Besiktas striker Cyle Larin started and continued his national team revitalization. Once seen as an underperforming, snakebitten striker with the national team, Larin has been Canada's best player in 2021, with eight goals in seven games (all competitive fixtures). He was Canada's most dominant player on Sunday and was aided by Tajon Buchanan, replacing Davies on the left flank, as the two spots vacated by Davies and David continued to be a strength of the team.
As important as Larin and Buchanan's performances against Martinique was the performance of Alistair Johnston, who has continuously put in steady, mistake-free appearances for Canada since debuting in March. Johnston will have the most difficult assignment on Thursday, matched up against dynamic Haitian winger Derrick Etienne Jr. Between the two World Cup qualifiers this year and a brief appearance for Etienne against Johnston's Nashville SC last season in MLS, Johnston has soundly won their matchup with Etienne yet to produce anything against him.
Canada's good form against Haiti will continue in matchday two, with their third win in as many matches against Haiti in 2021.
PICK: Canada (-275)
Goalscorer pick
Larin, as mentioned, is in the best form of his career at the moment. After an unsuccessful first two years at Besiktas, Larin enjoyed the best season of his young career in 2020/21, scoring 19 goals and adding five assists in 33 starts for the Turkish giants. That form has extended to the Canadian national team, scoring seven times in six World Cup qualifiers and then opening the scoring against Martinique on Sunday.
Haiti had no answers for Larin's physicality and movement in June during World Cup qualifiers, with Larin netting once in each leg. He will continue to cause Haiti's defense problems on Thursday with a goal in his fourth straight game for Canada.
PICK: Cyle Larin - Anytime goalscorer (+115)
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