Haiti has qualified for just their second-ever FIFA World Cup after defeating Nicaragua 2-0, a remarkable achievement given that their manager, French coach Sebastien Migne, has never set foot on the Caribbean island.
Migne, 52, has been unable to visit Haiti since his appointment 18 months ago due to ongoing conflict and security concerns that have forced the team to play their home matches in Curacao, located 500 miles from Haiti. Since the devastating 2010 earthquake, Haiti has faced years of turmoil, with armed gangs controlling much of the capital, Port-au-Prince, displacing approximately 1.3 million people and contributing to severe food insecurity. Travel advisories continue to warn visitors of the high risks of crime, kidnappings, and civil unrest.
“It’s impossible because it’s too dangerous,” Migne told France Football magazine. “I usually live in the countries where I work, but I can’t here. There are no more international flights landing there.” The former Cameroon assistant relied on Haitian football federation officials for information about local players and managed the team remotely.
Haiti’s squad is entirely foreign-based, including Wolves midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, born in France, and the team is seeking to recruit Sunderland forward Wilson Isidor, also France-born with Haitian roots.
The 2-0 victory over Nicaragua secures Haiti a spot in the 2026 World Cup, set to be hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, marking their first appearance since 1974. They will join Panama, who qualified after a 3-0 win over El Salvador, and World Cup debutants Curacao, who drew with Jamaica.
Haiti’s previous World Cup campaign saw them eliminated in the group stage after losses to Italy, Poland, and Argentina, but this latest achievement represents a major milestone for Haitian football.
