Haiti is back in the men's World Cup for the first time since 1974. The Caribbean side, known as Les Grenadiers, will face Brazil, Morocco, and Scotland in Group C.
Their previous appearance ended in the group stage, but they left a mark when Emmanuel Sanon ended Italy goalkeeper Dino Zoff's 1,142-minute clean sheet record.
Due to rampant gang violence and a humanitarian crisis at home, Haiti played all qualifiers at neutral venues, mostly Curaçao. The team has not played a home international since 2021, and the national stadium was taken over by armed gangs in March 2024.
Striker Duckens Nazon, Haiti's record goalscorer, plays for Iran's Esteghlal and had to flee Tehran amid US-Israeli bombing. Midfielder Jean‑Ricner Bellegarde plays for Wolverhampton Wanderers, and captain Johny Placide is a goalkeeper for Bastia.
Coach Sebastien Migne, a Frenchman who has never visited Haiti, recruited players from the diaspora. Haiti topped their CONCACAF qualifying group ahead of Honduras, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua.
"We come humble, but also proud because we are Haitian," Nazon said.