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Haiti makes their World Cup return after a 52-year hiatus this summer, aiming to bring joy to millions of fans from the strife-ridden Caribbean nation.
As one of the tournament's biggest long shots, Haiti's goal is to make the most of their hard-fought qualification by competing fearlessly against Scotland, Brazil and Morocco in the group stage. Each of those three matches presents a genuine opportunity for Sébastien Migné's tenacious squad to pull off a major upset.
Haiti draws heavily from its diaspora for its player pool, and with Premier League forward Wilson Isidor leading the line, don't count out Les Grenadiers from causing a surprise or two.
The Road to the World Cup
Entering the third and final round of Concacaf qualifying, few gave Haiti a realistic chance of advancing from a group that featured Honduras and Costa Rica—two nations with multiple World Cup appearances this century.
Sitting third in Group C and on the brink of elimination, Haiti rose to the occasion by defeating Costa Rica—2014 quarterfinalists—on the road before comfortably dispatching Nicaragua. Those consecutive wins secured an outright group victory, booking Haiti's spot at the World Cup for the first time since 1974.
World Cup Schedule
Fixture | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
Haiti vs. Scotland | Saturday, June 13 | Gillette Stadium |
Brazil vs. Haiti | Friday, June 19 | Lincoln Financial Field |
Morocco vs. Haiti | Wednesday, June 24 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
Manager: Sébastien Migné
Migné has yet to lead a nation at a World Cup, but brings valuable tournament experience having served as an assistant to Rigobert Song with Cameroon at the 2022 edition.
A group stage victory over Brazil is a cherished memory Migné takes into his first tournament at the helm with Haiti—Cameroon claimed that match 2–1—and his status as a national hero was cemented after guiding the team to World Cup qualification. When adversity strikes, Migné can lean on his stints managing DR Congo, Kenya and Equatorial Guinea—positions where he regularly navigated the challenges of being the underdog.
How Haiti Plays
Maintaining a tight, organized defensive shape that restricts opponents from operating freely in the final third—particularly through central channels—is the cornerstone of Haiti's approach, with physically dominant defenders who excel in aerial duels.
Migné's team creates the majority of its chances by exploiting space through rapid, vertical counterattacks, frequently reaching dangerous positions in three touches or fewer.
Ones to Watch
X-Factor: Persuading Wolverhampton Wanderers attacking midfielder Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde to switch his international allegiance from France to Haiti was a pivotal moment in Les Grenadiers' World Cup campaign. Beyond being the creative engine of the team, he represents the island nation's greatest source of inspiration.
Breakout Star: First called into the Haiti squad last October, Guadeloupe-born
playmaker Josué Casimir—currently at Auxerre—is a constant threat down the right flank. He registered the assist on the decisive goal in the final qualifier, helping punch the team's ticket to North America.
What Haiti Will Be Wearing
Haiti's three World Cup strips are steeped in national pride.
The lower right section of the shirt honors the freedom fighters of the Battle of Vertières, where indigenous forces overcame Napoleon's French army on the path to securing Haiti's independence in 1803.
Haiti's national motto, "L'union fait la force" (unity is strength) is inscribed in fine lettering across the front of the kit, a detail only discernible up close. Silhouettes of mountains and two palm trees—further national emblems—decorate the back of the jersey.
Haiti's Predicted Starting XI
Haiti received a significant boost ahead of the tournament as Sunderland center forward Isidor opted to represent Les Grenadiers at international level. He immediately elevates the quality of Haiti's attack and could forge a potent partnership with all-time top scorer Duckens Nazon.
Bellegarde will function in a double pivot alongside Leverton Pierre, who provides defensive cover. Pacey wingers Ruben Providence and Casimir bring an additional dimension to Haiti's transition play.
Assuming fitness holds, regular starters Duke Lacroix, Hannes Delcroix, Ricardo Adé and Carlens Arcus round out the defensive line, shielding veteran 38-year-old goalkeeper Johny Placide, who will cap a storied career with a World Cup debut.
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Haiti opened 2026 with a pair of friendlies in Toronto, though they failed to win either match.
The 1–0 defeat to Tunisia and 1–1 stalemate with Iceland also marked the first time this decade that Haiti had faced African or European opposition—a telling sign of the limitations of competing within Concacaf and how that could prove costly at the World Cup.
What We Can Expect From Haiti Fans
The scenes of raw, unbridled celebration in the capital Port-au-Prince perfectly capture the spirit of Haiti's supporters. Drums and trumpets are the instruments of choice, setting the stage for a Caribbean celebration that stretches well into the early hours.
However, those celebrations are likely to remain on Haiti's streets. An ongoing conflict has led the U.S. to suspend visas for Haitian nationals, meaning the diaspora will be attending the World Cup in significantly reduced numbers.
Even so, there will be plenty of noise at Haiti's matches ... and then some.
National Expectations
Les Grenadiers head into this summer's tournament essentially free from the burden of expectation.
Haiti's national team serves as a powerful symbol of pride back home—offering a 90-minute escape from the harsh realities the conflict-stricken nation faces daily—and simply participating at the World Cup is regarded as a tremendous accomplishment. Anything beyond that is a welcome bonus.