The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico neared its conclusion over the past week around the world as countries attempted to close in on a berth at next summer’s tournament.

Among the players vying to lead their nations to success were a collection of USL Championship and League One talents, with 18 players representing eight countries in action in September’s qualifying games.

Here are four who made a notable impression while away on international duty.

1. Jahmali Waite, Jamaica

With the Philadelphia Union’s Andre Blake sidelined with injury, El Paso Locomotive FC goalkeeper Jahmali Waite stepped up for Jamaica and delivered a pair of shutouts as the Reggae Boyz burnished their position as the team to beat in Group B of Concacaf World Cup Qualifying.

The 26-year-old produced a three-save performance to open the window on Friday night in a 4-0 victory against Bermuda that saw former Tampa Bay Rowdies defender Damion Lowe open the scoring for the visitors and followed that with a two-save performance in a 2-0 victory at home to Trinidad and Tobago. Over the two games, Waite posted a Goals Prevented mark of -0.92, producing key saves to help his side start out on the right foot.

2. Duke Lacroix, Haiti

The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC veteran started in both games for Les Grenadiers and made a notable impact in both contests. Starting on the back line in Haiti’s opening contest against Honduras, Lacroix won 4 of 4 ground duels and 2 of 3 tackles defensively while offering a positive threat moving forward on the left side in one of the standout performances for the hosts as they played to a scoreless draw.

Lacroix continued to shine as the side headed to regional power Costa Rica on Tuesday night, where his attacking presence was even more keenly felt. The 31-year-old helped Haiti fight back from a two-goal halftime deficit, providing a deft assist on Duckens Nazon’s late goal that gave the visitors a lead before Los Ticos found an equalizer in second-half stoppage time. Lacroix has now recorded one goal and one assist in five appearances during Haiti’s World Cup Qualifying campaign this year, becoming an essential part of the squad.

3. Mayele Malango, Malawi

It was one thing for Mayele Malango to receive his first call-up for Malawi, which became his home as a refugee for more than a decade due to war in his native Democratic Republic of Congo, but the Monterey Bay FC winger not only made his debut for the country but also contributed to an impressive comeback in his second appearance to keep the Flames’ slim chances of qualification alive.

Brought on as a substitute in both of Malawi’s contests, Malango played the final half-hour against Liberia on Monday evening at the country’s national stadium and provided the assist on Gabadinho Mhango’s headed finish with a fine cross from the right to kickstart a two-goal comeback that led to a 2-2 draw. Malawi will need to win twice and get help in its final two games in October, but this could be the start of something big for Malango after breaking in at the international level.

4. Phanuel Kavita, Rwanda

After making his debut for the Wasps last year in an international friendly, Birmingham Legion FC veteran Phanuel Kavita earned starts in each of the country’s contests in the current window of CAF World Cup Qualifying against Nigeria and Zimbabwe and performed positively in both.

The 32-year-old went the full 90 minutes in both contests, and while Rwanda fell 1-0 away to regional power Nigeria on Saturday evening to dent the side’s chances of progression, Kavita put in a good shift as the side rebounded with a 1-0 victory against Zimbabwe on Tuesday. With contests against the top two teams in the group to come – against Benin and South Africa in October – there’s still an outside chance for the side to make a jump up the standings.