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Haiti prepares for World Cup amid turmoil and optimism

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 12, 2026, 8:26 AM

Last updated Jun 12, 2026

Haiti prepares for World Cup amid turmoil and optimism

Summary

Haiti's national soccer team heads into the World Cup with a challenging group, facing Scotland, Brazil, and Morocco. Coach Sébastien Migné expressed cautious optimism, highlighting the significance of the matches for a country grappling with violence and hunger. Most players, including midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, have never visited Haiti due to safety concerns. Home matches during qualifying took place in Curaçao due to gang control in Haiti, and many fans may miss out on attending the World Cup in person due to entry restrictions and financial barriers. The team aims to create a new chapter in their World Cup history, after a disappointing performance in 1974.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Haiti faces Scotland, Brazil, and Morocco in group stage matches.
•Coach Migné can't visit Haiti due to safety issues.
•National stadium closed since February 2024 because of gang violence.
•Haitians without visas face US entry ban for World Cup.
•Team aims to improve on 1974 World Cup performance.

Latest Updates

8:26 AMYahoo Sports — Violence, hunger and a team in exile: Haiti's road to the World Cup

What they're saying

"
Haiti coach Sébastien Migné views the the troubled island nation’s great World Cup adventure with a certain degree of optimism. “Of course, it’s a tough group,” Migné said.
— Yahoo Sports

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