After nearly 53 years, Haiti qualified for the 2026 World Cup, achieving this feat on the anniversary of the final battle that won this Caribbean nation its independence. A country long overlooked because of its hardships now kicks into the global spotlight with confidence, hope, and a new narrative.
The story behind the epic win
On Nov. 18, Haiti’s Les Grenadiers defeated the Nicaraguan soccer team in a 2-0 victory, securing top spot in Group C of the Concacaf qualifiers during the third round of the last match day. The success of this team during the qualifiers was nothing short of exceptional, especially considering the circumstances they’ve been facing.
According to Rolling Out News, the French manager of Les Grenadiers, Sébastien Migné, has never actually been to Haiti since being appointed their manager, which was relatively recently. Due to the country’s difficult economic situation, the discontinued flights to the capital, Port-au-Prince, and ongoing safety issues, he has been unable to visit the country to scout Haitian-based athletes. Instead, Migné has created the national team almost entirely remotely, drawing on phone calls and reports through his local contacts, a virtual approach that’s pretty much unheard of in international football history.
Migné told France Football Magazine that it’s impossible to visit Haiti because it’s too dangerous. “I usually live in the countries where I work, but I can’t here,” Migné said. “There are no more international flights landing there.” Migné says he simply receives the information and coordinates the team from afar.
Adding to these challenges, the Haitian soccer team has been unable to play their home games in their national stadium, Stade Sylvio Cator, which has become unfit for use because it’s been taken over by gangs. As a result, they’ve been hosting their home matches in Curaçao, an island country in the Southern Caribbean. Even without playing on their own soil or in front of their fans, Haiti still managed to hold its own during their qualification campaign.
The 1803 Battle of Vertières
Haiti’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has significant historical ties to the 1803 Battle of Vertières, when the Haitian army fought its last battle against French troops, paving the way for Haiti to become the first free black republic. According to the Haitian Times, this clash represented the last stand of France’s colonial forces in Saint-Domingue, following more than a hundred years of occupation of the colony.
Under the leadership of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, who had previously served as a general under Toussaint Louverture, the Haitian revolutionary army carried out a decisive attack on Fort Vertières near what is now Cap-Haïtien. The French, led by General Donatien Rochambeau, had fortified their positions. Still, the revolutionary army, made up mainly of formerly enslaved people, pushed forward, fighting for complete liberation and an end to slavery.
On the same symbolic day 222 years later, Haitians from all across the country flooded Port-au-Prince, chanting and celebrating in triumph of their team’s qualification and their nation’s independence. This breakthrough was so pivotal that even the gangs joined in the celebration, causing a temporary ceasefire. Although it has endured years of loss, violence, and difficulties, Haiti is a nation of resilient people, and our courage continues to shine through, even in the midst of darkness.