Haiti beats Trinidad & Tobago in new coach’s debut match

Overview:

Haiti rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Trinidad and Tobago 3-2 at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, giving new coach David Badía a first win and opening the team’s 2026-2027 Concacaf Nations League campaign on a winning note.

Haiti’s men’s national soccer team opened a new chapter under Spanish coach David Badía with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday in the Concacaf Nations League match.

The win marked Haiti’s return to competitive action after its historic FIFA World Cup campaign and gave Badía three points in his first match in charge of Les Grenadiers.

In front of mostly Haitian fans, Haiti looked headed for a disappointing start after Trinidad and Tobago erased an early deficit and took a 2-1 lead in the second half. But defender Garven Metusala equalized in the 91st minute before star forward Wilson Isidor scored eight minutes into stoppage time to complete the comeback.

“First match, first win,” the Haitian Football Federation communications department posted on Facebook after the game.

“Haiti was under pressure for most of the match, but the Grenadiers drew on their experience and perseverance to turn the game around and secure a 3-2 victory.”

Haiti controlled much of the match, finishing with more than 69% possession and 92% passing accuracy, according to Concacaf’s match stats, but struggled to convert its chances before finding the breakthrough late.

Haiti strikes first

Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United winger Fafà Picault put Haiti ahead in the 23rd minute, heading home from close range after a well-placed pass from Isidor.

Trinidad and Tobago responded eight minutes later. Midfielder Wayne Frederick scored in the 31st minute following a set piece to send the teams into halftime tied 1-1.

Haiti continued to build its attack after the break, but Trinidad and Tobago’s defense limited the Grenadiers’ chances.

The Soca Warriors then capitalized on a Haiti turnover and took the lead in the 59th minute when center-forward Levi García finished a counterattack to make it 2-1.

“Haiti was under pressure for most of the match, but the Grenadiers drew on their experience and perseverance to turn the game around and secure a 3-2 victory.”

FHF Media

Badía responded with several substitutions, bringing on Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, newcomer Kenny Quétant and Yassin Fortuné in the 58th minute, followed later by Ruben Providence and Frantzdy Pierrot as Haiti searched for an equalizer.

Late comeback, a new cycle begins after the World Cup

Haiti finally broke through in the first minute of stoppage time.

Isidor delivered his second assist of the night, setting up Metusala for the equalizer.

Then, with the match seemingly headed for a draw, Isidor completed the comeback himself in the eighth minute of stoppage time, giving Haiti a 3-2 victory.

The result gave Haiti three points in Group A of the League A. The Dominican Republic also opened its campaign with a 3-2 victory over Nicaragua, while Curaçao defeated Costa Rica 4-3 in the group’s other opening match.

The Concacaf Nations League opener was Haiti’s first match since its participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended June 24 against Morocco in Atlanta and the departure of former coach Sébastien Migné.

Migné guided Haiti through World Cup qualifying and to its first appearance in the tournament since 1974. Badía, who took over this month, now begins the next phase with a victory.

The transition comes as Haiti continues to deal with the security crisis that has prevented the national team from playing competitive matches on home soil and disrupted the country’s domestic soccer infrastructure.

Haiti’s next Nations League match is against Costa Rica on Sept. 27 also at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica. The Grenadiers will then face their neighbor the Dominican Republic away on Oct. 1 before traveling to Costa Rica for the group finale on Oct. 4.

Road to the quarterfinals

Haiti is competing in League A, the top tier of Concacaf’s 41-member associations. Twelve teams are divided into two six-team groups, with each team playing four group-stage matches, including two at home and two away.

The top two teams in each group will advance to the quarterfinals, where they will join the four teams that received automatic berths: the United States, Canada, Mexico and Panama.

For Haiti, the immediate task is to build on its dramatic opening victory and secure enough points during the September and October international windows to remain in contention for the November quarterfinals.

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