History was made: A Caribbean nation under gang control heads for the 2026 World Cup

Haiti’s qualification to the 2026 World Cup was sealed on Tuesday evening. It is nothing less than surreal. A fairytale born of chaos unimaginable. 

It’s the first time the Caribbean country has made it to the finals since 1974, and they only sealed the deal after watching the finish of the Honduras vs. Costa Rica match on someone’s phone. While they were beating Nicaragua, that 0‑0 draw across the water meant the magic happened.

The backstory is a story of a team exiled, a country without a home, and a nation in total chaos

Here’s the truth: Haiti’s home campaign did not take place in Haiti. Since July 2021 the national team haven’t played one qualifier at home. Why? Because armed gangs now control almost every corner of Port‑au‑Prince, the country’s capital, making it too dangerous. So they played their supposed home games in Willemstad, Curaçao, about 800 kilometres away. 

It gets worse. The biggest stadium in Haiti, Stade Sylvio Cator was overrun by gangs early in March 2024. Haitian Football Federation acknowledged that armed criminals had “invaded” and “occupied” the stadium. The site had been vandalised or even set on flames.

Port-au-Prince, the capital city, is in a state of near-permanent terror. Gangs have carved up Port‑au‑Prince into criminal fiefdoms, running the show more than any government. They terrorise entire neighbourhoods, block roads and hoard food. UN warned that gang-related violence has forced over a half million Haitians to flee their homes. 

The French coach never visited Haiti

Amid that, the team’s French coach, Sébastien Migné, has never even been to the country. He told France Football, “It is impossible.” It’s too dangerous and no international flights land in Haiti anymore.

At 52, Migné runs the whole campaign from abroad, relying on off‑site scans and federation bulletins. 

What about the team? This team is not made up of Port-au-Prince locals, but mostly diaspora Haitians. Some players were born in France, Canada, the US and even Switzerland. Coach and some players have never even been to Haiti.

It’s more than just a sports story. Haiti has been ravaged by violence but its team achieved a rare act of unity in qualifying for the World Cup. Always on the move, in danger, and against all odds, Haitians are a team that has come from exile.

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