Haiti bows out of U-17 World Cup with no points after recording 3 consecutive losses 

Haiti was knocked out of the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup after losing all three of its matches in the group stage. Haiti’s Les Grenadiers were among the worst teams of the tournament as they racked the third-worst goal differential: -12. The team conceded the third most goals in the tournament, 16, and only found the net four times. 

Statistically, it was the worst performance in five World Cups across all age groups for Haiti, including men and women, suggesting that soccer is severely deteriorating rather than advancing. 

Ranch de la Croix-des-Bouquets, a housing youth training center, has been closed since November 2021 due to gang violence. The Haitian League is operating with only 14 teams due to gang violence in Port-au-Prince, down from 18.

Additionally, the Haitian Football Federation is being led by a committee of normalization instead of a president. All of these factors have been detrimental to the development of soccer in the country. Before the World Cup, Haiti also put up disastrous performances in other competitions in recent years, such as in the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup in June. 

Les Grenadiers’ worst-ever showing in the World Cup in 2025 even included an embarrassing 8-1 loss to England. Haiti’s soccer is in dire need of a renaissance. 

Scores of fans took over social media to lament and share their frustration and desire to see a renaissance — just like the country as a whole is in need of one. But it is a long shot.

Translation: Let’s just give up on this soccer thing. Let’s take a break from playing it. Let’s just watch it.

Haiti conceded the most goals but also scored the most in the recent World Cup it participated in. Les Grenadiers have never won a game in the global tournament and only earned one draw out of 15 matches. Across all five World Cups, Haiti’s record stands at 0 wins, 1 draw and 14 losses.

Haiti’s defense looked extremely disorganized in the team’s three World Cup games. The players lacked energy and were often out of position. As a result, the team often conceded early. For instance, Haiti conceded its first goal in the third minute of the first game, which was against Egypt on Nov. 4. They lost that encounter 4-1. England bullied Les Grenadiers 8-1 on Nov. 7 before Venezuela beat them 4-2.

Haiti performed best in the last game against Venezuela on Nov. 10 but still ended up losing. Two of Haiti’s top performers were right winger Franco Celestin and attacking midfielder Woodson Felix. Both players made history by becoming the only two Haitians to tally a goal and an assist in a World Cup.

Haiti will attempt to qualify for a World Cup later this month as the senior team will end its qualifying campaign with games against Costa Rica on Nov. 13 and Nicaragua on Nov. 18. 

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