Halehale to Represent Guam for Upcoming World Cup Qualification Matches

Kyle Halehale, a junior midfielder on the Central Connecticut men's soccer team, was was called up to represent Guam in upcoming FIFA World Cup 26 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Joint Preliminary Qualification Round 1 against Singapore. The teams will first play on Oct. 12 at the National Stadium in Singapore the first leg of Round 1. Guam will return home to play against Singapore again Oct. 17 at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.

"I am very proud and very excited," said Halehale of being selected to join Guam. "It's an honor to be able to represent the nation where I was born and raised. I'm really excited to represent Guam and my family. Hopefully we can get a good result and go on to the next round."

"We're delighted that Kyle has again been given the opportunity to represent Guam in World Cup Qualifying," said CCSU head coach David Kelly. "It's a fantastic chance for him, one that we know he'll relish. Just being in that environment will be great experience for him and we know that if gets to take the pitch, he'll give everything that he has, and we're very proud of him. Best of luck to him, and can't wait to see him play!"

Halehale has been a fixture in the CCSU midfield in his three seasons. He has appeared in 40 career matches, making 31 starts, while notching five career goals and three assists. He started all seven games and had two goals scored as a freshman during an abbreviated spring season in 2021. As a sophomore in 2022, Halehale was one of two Blue Devils to start all 15 matches. He has gotten off to a strong start in 2023, appearing in four matches with a goal and two assists. He earned Northeast Conference Prime Performer honors after posting a goal and an assist in CCSU's win at St. Bonaventure on September 1. Halehale also set up the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win over Quinnipiac on September 12.

"CCSU has given me the chance to play really good competition week in and week out," Halehale said of his experience at Central. "The games have helped me stay fit and mentally sharp. Hopefully, my performances here [at CCSU] can help me in the qualifiers and when I come back hopefully that translates to helping us win in NEC games."

Halehale has also been a standout in the classroom. He was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team as a sophomore and has also been named to the Northeast Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll and Northeast Conference Academic Honor Roll during his career.

"I was born and raised on Guam and it was all I've ever known until I came to CCSU," Halehale said of the opportunity to play in front of friends and family. "It means the world to me, being able to play at home where the weather is nice, in front of friends and family, means a lot. I just want to do my best, hopefully get a good result, and celebrate together."

In addition to representing Guam at the senior team level, Halehale has represented them at the under-17 and under-20 levels. He is a two-time Marianas Cup MVP and was a three-time All-Island High School First Team selection.

The winner of the Guam-Singapore fixtures has been drawn into Group C of Round 2 of the Asian Qualifiers. Korea Republic, China PR, and Thailand await the results of the Guam-Singapore fixtures before Round 2 matches will begin in November.