Haiti qualifies for World Cup for first time in 52 years on Bataille de Vertières day

Haiti’s men soccer team has qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 52 years, doing so on Bataille de Vertières — the last major battle of the Haitian Revolution — on Nov. 18 at Ergilio Hato Stadium in Curuçao. 

Les Grenadiers blanked Nicaragua 2-0 to top Group C in the Concacaf region with 11 points. Wingers Louicius Don Deedson and Ruben Providence were on target for Haiti.

Scores of Haitians in different communes took to the streets to celebrate with rara bands such as in Cap-Haïtien and Port-de-Paix. Cars and motorcycles also honked repeatedly after Haiti sealed its spot in the World Cup.

Scores of Haitian fans also took to social media to express their immense joy after their country booked their ticket to the highest soccer competition across the globe.

Haiti qualified to the World Cup without having played a single home game in Haiti due to the gang violence in Port-au-Prince and lack of FIFA regulated fields. Les Grenadiers played multiple of their home games in Curuçao. 

During qualifiers, head coach Sebastien Migné convinced three players from top leagues in Europe to join the team: Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, winger Josue Casimir and center back Hannes Delcroix. Bellegarde revitalized Haiti’s midfield and Delcroix was rock solid but calm on the ball in the heart of the defense in the last two qualifiers. Casimir provided countless key passes, helping the team destabilize their opponents’ defenses in the last stage of the qualifiers.

Two long-time players who played a crucial part late in the qualifiers: star striker Duckens Nazon, who scored a hat trick against Costa Rica in a 3-3 draw on Sept. 9 and keeper Johny Placide who racked six saves against Costa Rica in a 1-0 win on Nov. 14. 

It was easier for Haiti to qualify for the World Cup this year because the giants in the Concacaf, Canada, Mexico and the United States did not take part in the qualifiers since they will host the competition. The World Cup will kick off in June 2026. Les Grenadiers will hope to stun the world.

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