Haiti's men's national soccer team will play its first group-stage match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, on the 13th. It is Haiti's first World Cup return in 52 years, achieved amid ongoing security collapse and political turmoil since the 2021 presidential assassination.
The Financial Times (FT) recently detailed how Haiti qualified for the World Cup despite extreme chaos. Haiti is considered one of the most unstable countries in the world today. After the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, the country's functions effectively shut down, and armed gangs control large parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince. With main roads blocked, the capital is effectively isolated, and kidnapping, robbery and extortion have become routine. Hospitals and schools have turned into shelters for displaced people, and in 2024, repeated shootings at aircraft near the airport led major airlines to suspend operations.
The situation has directly affected the national team's operations. Haiti could not host home qualifiers on its own soil. For every home match, the team played in Curaçao, about 800 km away in the Caribbean. Head coach Sébastien Migné of France, who leads Haiti's national team, is reportedly yet to visit Haiti.
With the domestic league frequently halted by security problems, the national team has been built mainly around overseas-based players. Most of the current squad are members of the diaspora who were born and raised in countries such as France, the United Kingdom and the United States. Some players once represented other countries like France at youth levels before choosing Haiti. A representative example is Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde in the English Premier League. Born in France, he came through France's youth teams but decided last year to play for Haiti's senior team. Sunderland forward Wilson Isidor was also born in France but put on the Haiti jersey.
FT said the Haitian Football Federation spent years persuading players scattered overseas. Monique André, president of the Haitian Football Federation, told FT, "There are many players with outstanding talent abroad, but it was important to make them trust and feel proud of the Haiti national team," adding, "Every step—training camps, away trips and call-ups—required additional expense and administrative effort."
The national team's strong run is also yielding diplomatic effects. The Haitian Embassy in the United Kingdom worked closely with the federation to identify and persuade players of Haitian descent in Britain. Anaïs Manuel, Haiti's ambassador to the U.K., told FT, "People are beginning to take an interest in Haiti's story," and "thanks to the World Cup, we have more opportunities to explain the problems Haiti faces."
Practical difficulties persist even after qualification. According to the Associated Press, midfielder Widensky Pierre, the only national team player residing in Haiti, received a U.S. visa only recently, enabling him to participate in the World Cup. Some Haitian soccer officials are reportedly still awaiting permission to enter the United States. Earlier, on Jun. last year, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation restricting entry to the United States for nationals of certain countries, including Haiti.
FT reported growing voices in Haiti hoping this World Cup will be an opportunity for social rebuilding beyond a simple sporting event. In Haiti, where about half the population is under 25, soccer has long been a symbol of hope for young people. But with gang violence spreading, even the street soccer culture has disappeared, according to the local sports community. James Louis Charles, a coach who runs a local youth soccer club, said, "When I was young, every alley was full of kids playing soccer, but now all you hear are gunshots," adding, "I hope this World Cup becomes a chance to draw attention and investment to Haiti."
In this tournament, Haiti will face powerhouses such as Scotland and Brazil. While many assess that Haiti is the underdog on paper, FT said Haitians already see reaching the finals itself as a miracle. There is an assessment that simply returning to the world soccer stage after more than half a century is meaningful for Haiti.