Haiti reach 2026 World Cup despite manager never setting foot in country
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Haiti secured their place at the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday with a 2-0 victory over Nicaragua, completing a remarkable qualifying campaign despite head coach Sébastien Migné never having set foot in the country due to persistent security concerns.
The win in Curaçao – where Haiti have played all their home fixtures because of instability back home – ensured they finished top of Group C ahead of regional favourites Honduras and Costa Rica. Their qualification ends a 52-year absence from the tournament, having last appeared at the 1974 World Cup in West Germany.
Migné, appointed in 2023, has managed the entire campaign remotely, relying on video analysis and training camps abroad as political unrest and widespread violence have made travel to Haiti impossible. “It’s impossible because it’s too dangerous,” he told France Football. “I usually live in the countries where I work, but I can’t here. There are no more international flights landing there.”
Haiti’s squad is made up entirely of foreign-based players, led by Wolves midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, whose composure and ball-carrying ability have been central to the team’s approach. The federation has also begun exploring additions to bolster depth ahead of the World Cup, including Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor, who is eligible for both France and Haiti.
“I would like to set myself the goal of going to the World Cup,” Isidor told L’Équipe. “Haiti has already approached me, but I haven’t made a decision yet. I’m currently focused on my club.”
For Haiti, qualification represents both a sporting milestone and a unifying moment for a nation long affected by instability. For Migné, it marks an extraordinary coaching achievement, guiding a World Cup campaign from afar and preparing a side now looking to make an impact on the global stage next summer.