Haiti qualifies for FIFA World Cup despite coach never being there

In its only previous World Cup experience, Haiti exited at the group stage after defeats to Italy, Argentina and Poland.

Fans watching a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Haiti and Nicaragua celebrate Haiti's first goal, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)

One of the least developed countries in the world, Haiti is often described as a failed state. But the Caribbean island of 12 million people, which was ravaged by a devastating earthquake in 2010, will be making its second appearance at the FIFA World Cup next year.

The country has had no elected officials since 2023. It is infamous for gang activity that controls almost the whole of the capital Port-au-Prince and there are numerous travel advisories saying one shouldn’t visit the country beset with crimes like kidnappings. Terrorist activity, civil unrest, widespread hunger and limited health care are other disincentives. So, it’s no surprise that Sebastien Migne, the coach who guided Haiti to the biggest stage in international football for the first time since 1974, has never set foot on the troubled nation since his appointment 18 months ago. The national team has to play its home matches 500 miles away in Curacao, an island nation just off the coast of Venezuela in South America.

“It’s impossible because it’s too dangerous,” Migne told France Football magazine. “I usually live in the countries where I work, but I can’t here. There are no more international flights landing there.”

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Migne was Cameroon’s assistant coach at the last World Cup and all his players are foreign-based. He was dependent on inputs provided by officials of the country’s football federation.

“They gave me information, and I managed the team remotely,” the 52-year-old said.

Haiti beat Nicaragua 2-0 on Tuesday to qualify for the World Cup after beating frequent World Cup visitors Costa Rica 1-0 last Thursday, and will join other underdogs such as Panama and Curacao from the Concacaf (North, Central American and Caribbean) region at the tournament to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

In its only previous World Cup experience, Haiti exited at the group stage after defeats to Italy, Argentina and Poland.

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Migne has a lot of coaching experience with African national teams, having been at the helm with Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and Equatorial Guinea. He has tried to rope in players of Haitian descent playing in top European leagues, like Sunderland forward Wilson Isidor and Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, who are both eligible to represent France as well. Other such players are former French under-21 international Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, winger Josué Casimir from AJ Auxerre, and former Belgium centre-back Hannes Delcroix, according to Reuters.