Haiti Clinches 2026 World Cup Spot Amidst Challenges
On Tuesday, Haiti secured their place in the upcoming 2026 World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Nicaragua. This remarkable achievement comes under unusual circumstances, as their coach, Sebastien Migne, has not been able to set foot in Haiti due to ongoing unrest in the country.
Due to safety concerns, the Haitian national team has been playing their home matches in Curacao, located over 500 miles away. Their qualifying campaign was unexpectedly successful, allowing them to finish first in Group C, surpassing favored teams such as Honduras and Costa Rica.
This will mark Haiti’s first World Cup participation in 52 years, the last being in West Germany in 1974. Travel to Haiti is currently advised against due to high levels of violence and civil unrest, which have been prevalent since the devastating earthquake in 2010.
The Haitian squad, predominantly made up of players based overseas, is spearheaded by French-born midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
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Migne expressed his frustration to France Football, stating, “It’s impossible to visit because it’s too dangerous. Generally, I reside in the countries I manage, but that’s not feasible here. No international flights are landing.” Meanwhile, the team is looking to add Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor to their roster.
Isidor shared his aspirations with French daily L’Equipe: “I aim for the World Cup, it will always be a dream. I have two choices: France and Haiti. Haiti has contacted me, but I haven’t made a decision yet as my focus is on my club. I know the French team well, having played alongside and against many of them.”
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