Overview:
Haiti’s U-17 women’s soccer team will face the United States, Puerto Rico and Bermuda in the final round of Concacaf qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. The young Grenadières must finish first or, as the best second-place team overall, to clinch qualification for the competition in Morocco between October and November.
MIAMI — Haiti’s under-17 women’s soccer team now knows its opponents for the final round of qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco. All qualifying matches will be played from March 17 to 22 in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
A draw was held on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at Concacaf headquarters in Miami. Haiti was placed in Group B alongside the heavyweight United States and two lower-ranked Caribbean rivals—Puerto Rico and Bermuda.
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Twelve nations advanced to this final qualifying stage, divided into three groups of four. Group A includes Canada, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Nicaragua, while Group C features Mexico, Panama, Jamaica and Costa Rica.
The U.S., Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica qualified automatically for this final phase as the confederation’s top four-ranked teams. Eight nations from fifth place to lower—including Haiti—advanced after winning their respective groups in the first phase, while Bermuda and Nicaragua progressed as the two best second-place finishers overall.
Screengrab of the three groups for Concacaf’s final round of the Women’s Under-17 World Cup Qualifying. Credit: Concacaf
“After advancing comfortably through the first phase, the young women now carry the responsibility of securing another World Cup berth for Haiti,” the Haitian Football Federation (FHF) posted on Facebook after the draw.
“Don’t ever let a country make you lose yourself before you even step on the field,” a Facebook user said under the Danny Lambi profile. “Stay focused on your training and give 120% of your energy.”
With the U.S. team the favorite to top Group B, Haiti faces a tough battle, fans say. But Les Petites Grenadières’ goal is clear: finish first in the group or secure the best second-place spot overall to qualify. Only four of the 12 teams will advance to the World Cup.
In the previous edition of the Concacaf Women’s U-17 Final Round, Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, and the U.S. secured the four Concacaf berths for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, also held in Morocco.
For Haiti’s young Grenadières, this year’s final round offers a chance to compete on the global stage in this category for the first time. Previous women’s World Cup participations include France 2018 at the U-20 level and Australia/New Zealand 2023 at the senior level. A qualification would mark Haiti’s eighth World Cup appearance across all age groups and genders.
Of the seven World Cup qualifications, the under-17 boys alone account for four tickets— including clinching in 2007, 2019, 2025 and 2026. After playing in Qatar last November, the team qualified to return to the tournament next Fall, achieving a historic back-to-back appearance two weeks ago.
Les Petites Grenadières will open the final round against Puerto Rico on Tuesday, March 17, at 2:36 p.m. EST at the FIFA Proyecto Goal complex in Alajuela, Costa Rica. They will face the United States on March 19 at 3 p.m. EST and close group play against Bermuda on March 22 at 10 a.m. EST. All matches will be streamed live on Concacaf’s YouTube channel.
Match schedule of the 2026 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 World Cup Qualifiers. Credit: Concacaf
The U-17 women’s campaign comes amid a busy period for Haitian football. The men’s U-20 team will begin its own World Cup qualifying campaign later this month, while the senior women’s national team continues preparations for upcoming matches in March and April. The side recently received a boost with the appointment of renowned Swedish coach Pia Mariane Sundhage as head coach, aiming to emulate the senior men’s team by qualifying for a second World Cup.
As the qualifiers approach, hopes are high among fans in Haiti and abroad that the country’s young talents can rise to the challenge and keep its World Cup ambitions alive.
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