CAP-HAITIEN — Preparing to take on Saint Lucia and Barbados on June 6 and June 9, respectively, at Wildey Turf in Barbados, Haiti’s Men’s National Soccer Team head coach, Sébastien Migné, has advised his players not to underestimate their first two opponents in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign. Although Saint Lucia and Barbados appear to be weaker competitors on paper, Migné emphasized the importance of staying focused and prepared.
“We have to be vigilant and be humble,” Migné said in an interview with the Haitian Football Federation (FHF) on May 27. “Because Saint Lucia, for example, has players who play in Great Britain and Germany. They will compete as hard as we do.”
Saint Lucia has five players competing in England’s third to sixth divisions and one at the amateur level in Germany. One of their most dangerous European-based players, 26-year-old forward Reeco Lee Hackett-Fairchild, scored seven goals in 29 appearances this season for Lincoln City in England’s third division. The Pitons also have two defenders in England’s third division: Terell Thomas and Janoi Donac.
Saint Lucia is ranked 165th in the FIFA ranking, Barbados 177th and Haiti 90th, highlighting Les Grenadiers’ superiority on paper. Most Haitian fans think their team should collect two comfortable victories over these opponents. However, Migné’s advice for his players not to underestimate their opponents comes during a period when the team has failed to defeat weaker opponents.
Haiti drew 1-1 with French Guiana in a friendly game in March, marking Migné’s debut. Before that, Les Grenadiers surprisingly drew with Cuba, ranked 169th by FIFA, in September 2023 in the Concacaf Nations League. They then drew 0-0 with the 144th-placed team, Suriname, in the same competition in October 2023.
These three encounters are part of a six-game winless run for the struggling Grenadiers, who are entering the World Cup qualifiers not in their best form. This has led some fans and analysts to be pessimistic about the first two qualifying games.
“Teams we used to beat 10-0, 5-0, now we’re drawing 1-1 with them. Instead of improving, we’re deteriorating,” said sports analyst Shellena Augustin. “We’re not ready for football.”
Coach Migné does not have a good record
Migné’s tenure as Haiti’s head coach began in March and has not revitalized Haitian soccer. Instead, it has disillusioned fans, as Migné himself has faced challenges in his coaching career. In his last role before being appointed by FHF, Migné resigned as Cameroon’s assistant coach after the team was eliminated from the African Cup of Nations in the Round of 16 in February 2022.
Prior to that, South African side Marumo Gallants F.C. sacked him in October 2021 for verbally abusing the club’s technical director. Under Migné’s leadership, Marumo did not win any of their first five league games and only scored one goal. Some soccer fans in South Africa jokingly referred to Migné as a “plumber,” a term used for people with low soccer knowledge or skills, before he started coaching the Gallants, according to the South African online newspaper IOL.
“The coaches they give us are without many accomplishments,” said sports analyst Shellena Augustin. “In the first game he coached Haiti’s team, he did not impress me.”
Adding to his unconvincing record, Migné will coach Haiti in the World Cup qualifiers after having very limited time with the players to train them on his style. As of June 1, only 11 players were in Barbados for training, reflecting the broader crisis in Haitian society. More players trickled in later during the week, with 19 of the 24-man roster in Barbados as of June 4.
Most players did not shine with their clubs
The team largely consists of players from rather unpopular clubs from the top and low professional divisions around Europe. Many of them had a below-par season, such as star forward Duckens Nazon, who only scored nine goals in 31 games for CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria and Kayserispor in Turkey combined.
Etienne has tallied one goal and no assists in 10 games for Toronto FC. Meanwhile, Picault has only racked up three goals and two assists in 14 games for Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Sainté, who joined FC Dallas three months ago, has played in only three games and has yet to score or provide an assist in MLS.
On a brighter note, forward Frantzdy Pierrot was one of the top performers in the just-ended club season, collecting 18 goals and six assists in 29 games for Maccabi Haifa F,C. in the Israeli Premier League.
Midfielder Christopher Attys is also a player to watch in the first two qualifiers. He plays in Italy’s second division for Feralpisalò. The former Inter Milan youth player has been on loan with Feralpisalò from Trento since February but has yet to make an appearance in Italy’s third division.
Despite the team’s negative aspects overshadowing its positive ones, coach Migné believes Haiti has a chance to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026, which is scheduled to be played in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
“I’m not a magician. I alone can’t qualify for the World Cup when Haiti has been trying to return for 50 years,” Migné said. “I need dynamic players with me, and the best way to contribute is to have the Haitian people behind me.
“If we all send positive energy and have good synergy, we might have a chance to qualify Haiti for the World Cup,” he added.
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