Haiti
First World Cup in 52 years
First World Cup in 52 years — qualified amid a national crisis so deep they couldn't play at home.
Watchability3/5
Drama4/5
Star power2/5
Title shot1/5
Team rating
67TEAM
- Attack68
- Midfield65
- Defense67
Next matches
- Next upvs MoroccoMercedes-Benz Stadium, AtlantaJun 24
The read
Haiti are at the World Cup for the FIRST TIME IN 52 YEARS — only their second appearance ever — and they qualified despite a crisis so severe at home that they had to play their 'home' matches 500 miles away in Curaçao. Their French coach has never even been able to set foot in the country. They lost their opener to Scotland 1-0, but for a nation this battered, every minute they hang with Brazil and Morocco is a gift.
The fan’s readFirst World Cup in 52 years, qualified amid a national crisis so deep they could not play at home — every minute they hang with Brazil and Morocco is a gift to root for.
The cast
- Sébastien MignéFrench; has coached Haiti for 18 months without ever entering the country, due to the security crisis that forces the team to play "home" games abroad.manager
- Wilson Isidor ★A Premier League striker who only committed to Haiti in early 2026 and scored almost immediately.ClubSunderland
- Jean-Ricner BellegardeA Premier League regular carrying Haiti's midfield single-handed.ClubWolverhampton Wanderers
- Johny PlacideThe 38-year-old captain, a survivor of Haiti's 2019 Gold Cup run, finally getting his World Cup.ClubFree agent / veteran
- Duckens NazonA well-traveled striker who's played in a dozen countries — the embodiment of Haiti's scattered squad.ClubJourneyman striker
Key moments
- 19741974 — first appearanceHaiti’s only previous World Cup was 1974; they lost all three games but became the first majority-Black Caribbean nation ever to qualify for the tournament.
- 1974Sanon ends Zoff’s streakIn 1974, Haiti’s Emmanuel Sanon scored against Italy and ended goalkeeper Dino Zoff’s world-record run of 1,142 minutes without conceding — though Italy went on to win 3-1.
- 2025Qualifying in exileHaiti qualified for 2026 while unable to play in their own country — staging "home" matches ~500 miles away in Curaçao because of the crisis at home.