Overview:
Haiti is placed in Group C for the World Cup and will face Brazil, Morocco and Scotland.
Haiti will face one of its longtime favorite soccer teams, Brazil, in the World Cup after being placed into the same group during the Dec. 5 draw in Washington, D.C. The other two teams in Group C that Les Grenadiers will face are Morocco and Scotland.
“It’s going to be a great moment and great exposure for all my players,” Haiti’s head coach Sébastien Migné told reporters after the draw.
Meanwhile, in Haiti, residents feel like it is a scenario they wouldn’t even dare dream of. But against all odds, it’s a reality they will witness: Haiti will play the five-time World Cup champions in the World Cup. Residents are beyond excited.
“The players will make history, they can tell their grandchildren about it,” said Otniel Despagne, a Port-au-Prince resident, about playing against soccer powerhouses in the group stage. “But soccerwise, as a Haitian fan who wants Haiti to perform well in the World Cup, this is not to our advantage.”
“When you’re playing against those teams the entire world is watching,” Despagne, 28, said. “It’s good because Haiti has a bad image, that would help us look better. But I wanted teams that are close to our level so we can get a point or why not all three points?”
Haitians are excited to watch their players square off against a team they grew up cheering for in June. In Haiti, you’re either a Brazil or Argentina supporter. However, most fans do not believe Les Grenadiers will pull off an upset against Brazil. But, they don’t want Haiti to back down to Seleção; they want the team to show what they are capable of, even if a victory seems out of reach.
“We don’t mind playing against the likes of Brazil and Argentina. It’s soccer, a lot of times what you think will happen is not what happens. We can finish second. Why not first or get best third place to make it to the next round. I wouldn’t be any more satisfied if we make it to the next round. I would be very happy, that would be the best thing I would witness in my life.”
Marval Esmeus, sports analyst
“In the words of [Jorge Hugo] Castelli, an Argentine coach who died, when playing against those strong teams when shaking the players’ hands, don’t look down, look them in the eyes,” said John Sévère, former head coach of Football Inter Club Association (FICA) and Association Sportive Capoise (ASC).
Castelli coached Haiti from 2001 to 2002.
“We’re the first Black independent nation, we’re not afraid of any other nations,” Sévère added. “We need to play, don’t sit back, play. We can get eliminated but at least we get to play our game. I don’t want to lose 4-0 and not play. At least, lose 4-1, if we score, Haiti will explode.”
‘We don’t mind playing against the likes of Brazil’
However, some Haitians want to see more than just goals. They believe Haiti can upset the five-time World Cup champion and even advance past the group stage. Among those optimistic fans is sports analyst Marcval Esméus.
“We don’t mind playing against the likes of Brazil and Argentina,” Esméus said. “It’s soccer, a lot of times what you think will happen is not what happens. We can finish second. Why not first or get best third place to make it to the next round. I wouldn’t be any more satisfied if we make it to the next round. I would be very happy, that would be the best thing I would witness in my life.”
The team Haiti is most likely to defeat in the group stage is Scotland, currently ranked 36th in FIFA’s standings. But with Haiti ranked 84th, even that matchup will be an uphill battle.
Morocco could prove an even tougher opponent. The African side finished fourth in the 2022 World Cup and is currently ranked 11th in FIFA’s standings.
A Haitian delegation of seven attended the draw in Washington D.C: Normalization Committee President Monique André, General Secretary Patrick Massenat, head coach Sebastin Migne, Wilner Nazaire – Haiti’s captain during the 1974 World Cup – team manager Peterson Desormeau Iscenté, Thécieux Jeanty, a member of the Haitian Football Federation (FHF)’s communication team and sports reporter Jean Pierre Etienne.
For the draw, FIFA divided the 48 teams into four pots, selecting one team from each to create 12 groups of four. Pot 1 included the host countries and the highest-ranked teams. The rankings declined with each pot, which explains why Haiti, ranked 84th by FIFA, was placed in Pot 4. Under this format, lower-ranked teams will face stronger opponents early in the tournament.
The four pots of the 2026 FIFA World Cup’s draw. Graphic via Haiti-Tempo
Haiti will battle Brazil, Morocco and Scotland in Group C. Credit: Haitian Football Federation
The draw took place on Dec. 5, the date explorer Christopher Columbus arrived in Haiti in 1492. About two weeks earlier, Haiti qualified for the World Cup after defeating Nicaragua 2-0 on another historic day: Nov. 18, the 222nd anniversary of Bataille de Vertières, the last major battle of the Haitian Revolution. Some Haitians see these dates as signs that things could go their way in the World Cup.
“Maybe this means Mother Nature is with us in this adventure,” said Caleb Jephté Pierre, a sports analyst with Haiti-Tempo. “December 5, 1492, so more than 400 years have passed and we have created our history since then.”
Pierre didn’t want Haiti to be drawn against soccer giants. He had hoped the team would be placed in an easier group to increase its chances of reaching the knockout stage. Still, like Despagne, he’s pleased that Haitian players will gain more visibility by facing Brazil.
“Those teams have millions of people watching them so millions of people’s eyes will be on Haiti,” Pierre said. “You never know we might surprise them. It’s 11 players versus 11 players. Even if the level is not the same, concentration and preparation could lead to a shocker. It’s good for Haiti, we will sell another Haiti in the World Cup.”
FIFA will hold another draw on Dec. 6 to determine the venues for the matches. Pierre said the location of Haiti’s games will be crucial, as playing in front of strong fan support could boost the players’ morale. Cities that could draw large Haitian crowds include Miami, New York/ New Jersey, Boston, Mexico City, Toronto, Atlanta and Philadelphia.
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