Haiti kehrt nach 52 Jahren auf die WM-Bühne zurück – Triumph eines geschundenen Landes

25.05.2026 16:25 Teams & Players

It is one of the most remarkable stories of qualification for the 2026 World Cup: Haiti, a country that has been in the stranglehold of gang warfare, political chaos and humanitarian catastrophe for years, has qualified for a football World Cup for the first time in 52 years. For the first time since the 1974 tournament in Germany, the "Grenadiers" will be seen on the biggest stage of world football – a sporting miracle against the backdrop of national tragedy. The starting conditions could hardly have been more difficult. In the capital Port-au-Prince, armed gangs control large parts of the city, the international airport was temporarily closed, and regular training operations in their own country have been practically impossible for months. The Haitian national team had to relocate all "home games" in qualification to foreign countries – including the Dominican Republic and Curaçao. No sign of home advantage, and certainly no normality. That the team managed to make the leap into the expanded 48-team field under these circumstances is the achievement of a cleverly assembled squad. Coach Sébastien Migné relies on a mix of professionals born in Haiti and players with Haitian roots who were trained in Europe and the USA. Stars like Duckens Nazon, the versatile offensive player Frantzdy Pierrot, and talents from the youth academies of French and Belgian clubs form the backbone. The defence around Ricardo Adé proved surprisingly stable in the decisive matches of CONCACAF qualification. The decisive moment came in the final qualifying round when Haiti had to hold their own against Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Honduras. With tactical discipline, tremendous running effort and impressive mental cohesion, the team prevailed. "We play for a people that needs hope," said captain Carl Sainté after the decisive match. "Every pass, every tackle is a sign that Haiti is still alive." Indeed, the success of the national team has significance that goes far beyond sport. In a country where roughly half the population suffers from hunger and more than a million people are displaced, the qualification victory became a rare moment of collective joy. On the few safe streets, people celebrated with drums and flags; on social media, videos circulated of jubilant families from the Haitian diaspora in Miami, Montreal and Paris. However, the Haitian Football Federation FHF faces enormous challenges. Preparation for the tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico must be organized entirely abroad. There is a lack of money, infrastructure and stable training conditions. International aid, including from FIFA, is urgently needed. It is already clear that Haiti will conduct its preparation camps in the USA and Europe. Sportwise, Haiti are among the tournament's outsiders – the group stage will likely prove a test against significantly better-equipped opponents. But qualification alone is already a historic success. 52 years after Emmanuel Sanon's legendary goal against Italy at the 1974 World Cup, a new generation of Haitian footballers is making history. In a torn nation, they have become symbols – of resilience, pride and the indestructible power of sport.