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Haiti

CONCACAFQualified

Haiti's emotional return β€” football as national identity.

90-second primer

Who they are

  • First World Cup since 1974 β€” a 52-year wait.
  • Identity built on technical flair and individual creativity.
  • Squad mixes domestic players with diaspora developed in France and North America.
  • Football is closely tied to Haitian national identity.

Why watch them

  • A 52-year return is one of the most emotionally meaningful storylines of 2026.
  • Manno Sanon's 1974 goal against Italy remains a famous World Cup moment.
  • Their qualification matters for the entire Caribbean football pyramid.
  • A great team for understanding how diaspora pathways sustain a national identity.

How they play

  • Technical
  • Creative
  • Emotional
  • Caribbean flair

Players to know

  • Manno SanonLegendΒ· Forward

    Scorer of Haiti's famous 1974 World Cup goal against Italy, breaking Dino Zoff's long international clean-sheet streak.

  • Duckens NazonModern IconΒ· Forward

    Long-serving Haitian striker with goals across multiple international cycles.

  • Frantz BertinLegendΒ· Defender

    Member of Haiti's 1974 squad and one of the longest-serving defenders of that era.

Player information reflects historical significance, not current squad selection.

Rules to understand when watching Haiti

Interesting facts

  • World Cup history

    Haiti's only previous World Cup appearance was in 1974, when Manno Sanon famously broke Italy goalkeeper Dino Zoff's long international clean-sheet streak in their opening match.

  • World Cup history

    2026 ends a 52-year absence from the World Cup β€” one of the longest gaps between appearances of any qualified nation in the tournament.

  • Fan culture

    Haitian football is closely tied to national identity β€” qualification carries cultural and emotional weight for one of the Caribbean's most football-passionate populations and its global diaspora.

World Cup history

Appearances1
Best resultGroup stage (1974)
Notable years1974

Haiti's only previous World Cup was in 1974, where Manno Sanon's opener against Italy remains one of the tournament's historic underdog moments. 2026 ends a 52-year absence.

Iconic moments

  1. 2025

    World Cup qualification

    Haiti secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup, ending a 52-year absence from football's biggest stage.

  2. 1974

    Manno Sanon scores against Italy

    Manno Sanon scored Haiti's opening goal against Italy at the 1974 World Cup, ending Dino Zoff's record international clean-sheet run of more than 1,100 minutes.

Sources

Team information is based on historical records and official FIFA data. Player information reflects historical significance, not current squad selection. Facts are reviewed for accuracy but may not reflect the most recent competition results.

FIFA 2026 World Cup teams β†’