Haiti at the 2026 World Cup

Haiti arrive at the 2026 World Cup carrying the hopes of a nation that has endured extraordinary hardship both on and off the pitch. Ranked 44th in the world by FIFA, the Grenadiers have qualified for only their second-ever World Cup, a historic achievement that underlines the remarkable progress made by Haitian football in recent years. Competing in CONCACAF, they navigated a competitive qualifying campaign to earn their place on the grandest stage in football, and manager Marc Collat will be determined to ensure the experience leaves a lasting mark. With a squad that blends European club experience with raw, hungry talent, Haiti will not simply be making up the numbers in Group C.

Group C context

Group C presents Haiti with a formidable challenge, as is inevitable for a nation of their standing at a first major global tournament in the modern era. The draw has placed them alongside opponents who will carry greater resources, deeper squad depth, and considerably more World Cup experience. However, Haiti's qualification run demonstrated they are capable of producing results against expectations, and the CONCACAF pathway has hardened them against physical, tactically disciplined opposition. A first group-stage victory would represent a landmark moment. The Grenadiers will look to be compact, organised, and dangerous on the counter-attack, targeting matches where they can limit space and exploit transitions. Every point earned in Group C will be celebrated, and the squad possesses the individual quality to make things uncomfortable for any opponent.

Manager: Marc Collat

Marc Collat has been the architect of Haiti's qualification campaign, instilling a clear tactical identity in a squad that spans multiple countries and club environments. The French coach has had to manage the logistical complexity of working with a diaspora squad, drawing on players based across France, Belgium, Switzerland, England, and the United States. His ability to build cohesion from that dispersed group speaks to his organisational qualities and man-management skills. Collat favours a structured defensive shape that allows Haiti to absorb pressure before committing to rapid transitions, a sensible approach given that his side will face opponents who enjoy greater possession in most fixtures. His experience of working in CONCACAF football has given him a clear understanding of the physical and tactical demands at this level, and he arrives at the World Cup having earned the trust of his players through a demanding qualifying process.

Squad and key players

Haiti's squad is notably young in several areas, with a core of players aged in their mid-to-late twenties who are at or approaching their peak. There is genuine quality scattered across the group, particularly in wide attacking positions and through the midfield, while the defensive unit has benefited from players who have developed their careers at a solid level in European football. The goalkeeping department is led by experience, and the forward line carries genuine pace and directness. This is a squad with clear identity and purpose.

• Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (Midfielder) Bellegarde's presence in the squad is one of Haiti's most significant assets, given his experience at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League. His technical quality and physicality in the middle of the park give Haiti a reliable platform from which to build.
• Wilson Isidor (Forward) The 25-year-old Sunderland forward brings pace and directness to Haiti's attacking play. He is capable of exploiting space in behind defensive lines and will be one of the primary outlets on the counter-attack.
• Josué Casimir (Forward) Casimir has developed steadily at Auxerre in Ligue 1 and offers Haiti a composed, technical option in the final third. His ability to link play and carry the ball makes him a versatile forward threat.
• Jean-Kévin Duverne (Defender) The Gent defender provides composure and reading of the game at the back. At 28 he is an experienced presence in a relatively young defensive group and will be central to Haiti's efforts to remain organised at this level.
• Frantzdy Pierrot (Forward) Pierrot is one of Haiti's more experienced attacking options and brings a physical directness that can unsettle defenders. His ability to hold up play and bring others into the game is valuable in moments when Haiti need to relieve pressure.
• Johny Placide (Goalkeeper) At 38, the Bastia goalkeeper is the senior figure between the posts and the most experienced player in the squad. His leadership and calmness in high-pressure moments will be essential in matches where Haiti face sustained periods of defensive work.

Tactical outlook

Collat has consistently deployed a disciplined defensive structure that prioritises solidity first and transition second. Haiti tend to sit in a mid-to-low block, denying opponents the space in behind that many international sides prefer to exploit, and then looking to move quickly once possession is won. The wide forwards, including Wilson Isidor and Yassin Fortuné, are key to this approach, offering the pace needed to stretch teams on the break. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde provides the engine in midfield, winning the ball and driving forward to support attacks. Defensively, the full-back positions will be important, with Jean-Kévin Duverne and Carlens Arcus expected to provide a solid spine on either side. Collat may also look to deploy Derrick Etienne Jr. to add width and energy in matches where Haiti have space to work with. The system is built on collective effort and clear roles, which suits a squad where harmony and trust have been carefully cultivated through qualifying.

Route through the tournament

Haiti's most realistic objective is to compete meaningfully in Group C and demonstrate that their qualification was no accident. A strong defensive display in the opening match, combined with clinical use of the few clear chances they are likely to create, would give the squad real belief heading into subsequent fixtures. If Bellegarde and Casimir can perform to their club levels, and if the defensive unit remains organised and difficult to break down, a shock result is not entirely beyond consideration. Progression from the group stage would require results that go against the expected order, but Haiti have shown throughout CONCACAF qualifying that they are capable of rising to significant occasions. The squad is young enough to absorb the experience and grow through the tournament, and even a narrow defeat can be a foundation if the performance is right.

Title outlook

Winning the World Cup is not a realistic assessment for Haiti at this stage of their development, and it would be unfair to the squad to frame their participation in those terms. What this tournament represents is something equally important: proof that Haitian football has the infrastructure, the talent, and the resilience to compete at the highest level. A nation that has faced immense challenges in recent years has produced a football team capable of qualifying for the World Cup, and that achievement carries meaning far beyond results on a pitch. Collat's side will go into every match to compete, not to make up the numbers, and if moments of quality from players such as Isidor, Bellegarde, or Casimir produce a famous result, the tournament will never forget the Grenadiers.

Related guides

• Haiti at the World Cup, full history.
• Group C fixtures and standings.
• World Cup 2026 hub.