Overview:
Haiti’s men’s under-20 soccer team opened its 2026 Concacaf Championship campaign for FIFA World Cup qualification with a 7-0 win over Anguilla on Feb. 26 and a 4-0 trouncing of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines two days later in Curaçao.
CAP-HAÏTIEN — Haiti’s men’s under-20 soccer team has opened its 2026 Concacaf Championship, which serves as a qualifier for both the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics, with two commanding victories— defeating Anguilla 7-0 and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4-0 at Rignaal “Jean” Francisca Stadium in Willemstad, Curaçao.
Les Petits Grenadiers played their first two games on Feb. 26 and Feb. 28, respectively. Striker Nikolaï Pierre led the charge, scoring twice in each match — three headers and a long-range strike. The 17-year-old Orlando City academy forward—a reliable scorer for Haiti at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar—continues to bolster his reputation as one of the country’s most promising young attackers.
Standing 6-foot-3 as a center forward, Pierre combines size, positioning and composure in front of the goal. With senior national team striker Frantzdy Pierrot now 30, observers have begun speculating about the next generation of forwards. If developed patiently, Pierre could emerge as a future option to succeed Pierrot.
“The kid (#18) can play,” Cheriko Ragnarson commented on Facebook. “And he’s huge. I hope an international club signs him early.
Right-winger Franco Celestin also impressed. He tallied two goals and an assist against Anguilla, then added two assists versus Saint Vincent. His opening goal in the first match — a solo run past two defenders before finishing from a tight angle — highlighted his technical ability.
A native of Croix-des-Bouquets, Celestin transferred in January from Mount Pleasant Academy to Montego Bay United in Jamaica’s Premier League.
Another standout player for both Haiti U-17 and U-20 is left-winger Emerson Laissé, 16. He delivered energetic performances on the flank, repeatedly beating defenders despite not scoring. His displays, along with Celestin’s, prompted some fans on social media to call for their inclusion on the senior national roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Sports analysts, however, cautioned against rushing the teenagers. They noted that strong showings against youth-level competition do not always translate immediately to the senior international stage and that careful development remains key.
“A lot of you want to see Emerson Laissé on the senior team,” sports analyst Caleb Jephte Pierre posted on Facebook. “He’s a player with a lot of talent, but we shouldn’t rush him. He still has a lot to learn [on and off the field],” Pierre added.
“I think we should wait until after the World Cup. They should consider him when rebuilding the team.”
Several Haiti-based players also made an impact. Clavens Exantus of Violette Athletic Club scored in both matches. Will Amstrong Leconte of Baltimore SC, Kervens Romulus of Racing Club Haïtien and Josué Anglade also found the net during the two-game stretch.
Les Petits Grenadiers sit atop Group D with six points, ahead of host Curaçao on goal difference. Only the group winner advances to the next round.
Haiti next faces Guyana on March 2 at 7 p.m. ET, then closes the first phase against Curaçao on March 4—also at 7 p.m. ET—at Rignaal “Jean” Francisca Stadium. The matches will be streamed live on Concacaf’s YouTube channel.
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