Joseph Edouard Gaetjens was a Haitian who played for the US in the 1950 World Cup, scoring the winning goal in the 1-0 upset of England. He emigrated to New York City in the late 1940’s to study accounting at Columbia University. While there he played for Brookhattan of the American Soccer League.

His success for the team attracted the attention of US Soccer, and Gaetjens made the national team for the 1950 World Cup. He played three games, but the most memorable was upset against England. Although Gaetjens was not a US citizen, he had declared his intention of becoming one, and under the rules of the US Soccer Football Association at that time was allowed to play. However, he never did gain the citizenship.

At the end of the World Cup, Gaetjens moved to France where he played briefly for Troyes, before returning to Haiti in 1954.