Haiti Qualifies for 2026 World Cup First Time Since 1974

Haiti's national soccer team secured a historic qualification for the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday, defeating Nicaragua 2-0 in Curacao to clinch a spot in the tournament for the first time since 1974 and only the second appearance in the country's history. The victory, which came amid a tense wait for results from other matches, marked a rare moment of national unity in a nation grappling with severe gang violence and political instability.

The match, played 500 miles from Haiti due to security threats in Port-au-Prince, saw Louicius Deedson score in the ninth minute and Ruben Providence add a header before halftime. Haiti topped Group C in CONCACAF qualifying after a goalless draw between Honduras and Costa Rica confirmed their position. Forward Duckens Nazon, who led the regional qualifiers with six goals, celebrated the achievement online, saying, "I hope you guys are going to enjoy it. It's not finished. It's just the start." Coach Sébastien Migné, a Frenchman appointed in June 2024, praised the team's resilience in a post-match press conference, noting, "We had a road map laid out from the beginning... We knew it would be a steep road, but we did it all together."