Overview:
Haiti’s under-17 men’s national soccer team secured a spot in the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup after defeating Guatemala 2-1 Tuesday at Progreso Cementos Stadium in Guatemala City. The victory marks Haiti’s second consecutive qualification in the category — a first in the country’s history. Goals from Sonson Jean-Baptiste and Danrick Dolce sealed the win, while goalkeeper Clifford Géné preserved the lead with key second-half saves. Haiti topped Group C with wins over Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda and then Guatemala.
CAP-HAÏTIEN — Haiti will compete in consecutive FIFA U-17 men’s World Cups for the first time after defeating Guatemala 2-1 Tuesday night at Progreso Cementos Stadium in Guatemala City.
With the victory, Les Petits Grenadiers secured a berth in the 2026 tournament in Qatar–-scheduled for October-November. The qualification adds to growing excitement around Haitian soccer, with the senior men’s national team also pursuing a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.
Graphic from the Haitian Football Federation (FHF) after Les Petits Grenadiers qualified for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. The bottom reads: “Nou refèl ankò”— Creole for we did it again. Photo credit: FHF Media
Fans celebrated the U-17 team’s achievement on social media.
“I’m so happy, so full of joy, ladies and gentlemen, that soccer made me forget that I’m living badly in Haiti,” James Lesage wrote on Facebook.
With the senior Grenadiers qualified for the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Haiti could potentially have three teams on the world stage in 2026, as the under-17 women compete in the final round of Concacaf qualifying.
Sonson Jr. Jean-Baptiste opened the scoring in the seventh minute. Guatemala responded four minutes later, but Danrick Dolce restored Haiti’s lead in the 22nd minute.
“What a performance, what a player,” sports reporter Caleb Jephte Pierre wrote on Facebook. “Clifford Géné did it again in a U-17 competition. He was very present at the end of the game. He was the MVP in my book.”
Haiti topped Group C with victories over Grenada (5-1), Antigua and Barbuda (4-0) and Guatemala (2-1). All matches were played at Progreso Cementos Stadium.
Emerson Laissé played a key role in the qualifying campaign, recording three assists and one goal in three matches. Striker Marvenly Exilas scored three goals — all against Grenada in the opening match. Captain Miguel Joseph anchored the midfield, completing 14 passes across three games.
In the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Haiti struggled defensively, conceding 12 goals in losses to Egypt (4-1), England (8-1) and Venezuela (4-2). The 8-1 defeat marked Haiti’s largest margin of loss in any World Cup across all age categories.
While the team showed resilience during qualifiers, defensive lapses remain a concern heading into Qatar.
“Good job,” Jamesky Blemur wrote on Facebook. “[But] the players are not well organized defensively yet. I’d like the coach to have the center backs lead the line. The defensive shape isn’t good. Opponents are often behind us and rarely caught offside.”
The 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup will be held in Qatar in November. The tournament is scheduled to be played annually in Qatar through 2029, providing Haiti additional opportunities to compete on the global stage.
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