Getty ImagesIf Scotland fans thought they had a long wait to return to the World Cup after being absent since 1998, spare a thought for Haiti.
The island nation’s sole World Cup appearance to date came in 1974, when they lost all three games including a 7-0 defeat to Poland. Just being at World Cup 2026 is a huge achievement, and a point would be progress next summer.
Conflict in Haiti means that the team hasn’t been able to play on home soil since 2021. That’s meant friendlies and qualifiers in the last four years have been played in Dominican Republic, Barbados, Aruba and Curacao, with little support cheering the team on.
A likely travel ban will hamper the side even when they get to America next summer but a determined effort and no little talent has already seen the team upset the odds. Haiti will be the rank outsiders when bookmakers price up Group C but after an arduous journey to reach the finals, it would be foolish to completely write off their chances of springing a surprise.
How did they qualify?
Continental heavyweights USA, Mexico and Canada all took their places in the draw as host nations, shaking up CONCACAF qualification.
That didn’t make it easy for Haiti though, who were only in second place in their group behind Curacao in their first round of qualifying. A 5-1 defeat to the group winners in the last match of the round probably didn’t instill much confidence.
The third round put Haiti in a group with Costa Rica and Nicaragua, the team upset the odds and defeated both in their final two games to finish two points clear and book their ticket to the finals.
Who is the boss?
Sebastian Migne had spent all of his managerial career in Africa before being appointed as Haiti boss, having led Congo, Kenya and Equatorial Guinea before a spell as Cameroon’s assistant manager.
He was appointed as Haiti boss in 2024 and is yet to set foot in the country. Migne has admitted that he has made decisions on players from the country’s domestic league based on telephone calls rather than seeing them in action.
Despite the difficulties, the 53-year-old has assembled a squad that’s built on foreign-based players, assembled from across the globe.
Who are the star men?
SNS GroupWolves midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde is one of the stand-out names in a diverse squad that plays at all levels, while goalkeeper Johnny Placide of Bastia has been a key man in the defensive performances that have underpinned recent progress.
Up front, Frantzdy Pierrot of AEK Athens has an impressive 33 goals from 47 internationals but the top scorer with 44 goals from 78 games is well-travelled Duckens Nazon. The 31-year-old scored against Aberdeen and Dundee United during a short loan stint at St Mirren.
The big name in Haiti’s World Cup squad might be uncapped as yet though. Sunderland star Wilson Isidor, French-born to Haitian parents, is considering a call-up and the chance to play on the biggest stage next summer.
His decision could make a significant difference to the team’s hopes and chances when they face Scotland on June 13.
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