Haiti is headed to the World Cup for the first time in more than 50 years, and celebrations broke out from Port-au-Prince to South Florida.
The soccer-loving Caribbean island, which has been devastated by gang violence and economic instability, qualified for the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday night, the first time Haiti will participate since 1974.
Haiti earned one of three direct Concacaf berths with a 2-0 win over Nicaragua in Curacao on Tuesday. The feat was especially impressive because the Haitian team did not play a single qualifying match at home because the stadium was unsafe due to gang violence. The team last played at home in 2021.
All of Haiti’s home matches were moved to neutral sites.
“Fifty-two years! We are back,” said Dr. Joseph Durandis, a Haiti-born physician and South Florida resident, who was at the game in Curacao. “Can you believe it? A country that is going through hell right now, we found the resources to be back on the world stage… After all of the odds, Haiti is back in the World Cup.”
He also noted the historical significance. Nov. 18 is the Battle of Vertières, the decisive battle in the country’s fight for independence from France.
Dr. Joseph Durandis and Monique Andre, head of the Haitian soccer Federation on the field in Curaçao after Haiti qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974 with a 2-0 win over Nicaragua. Courtesy Dr. Joseph Durandis
“November 18, 220 years after the Vertières battle, Haiti is back,” he declared, losing his voice with excitement. “We have won another battle, this time on the soccer field…This country cannot die, this country just cannot die. Haiti is back! We are back in the World Cup.”
Ruben Providence and Louicius Deedson scored for Haiti on Tuesday.
Haiti (3-2-1) entered the night tied with Honduras for top spot in its four-team qualifying group and needed to get one more point than its rival to secure a berth in the 48-team tournament, which will be held next summer in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Concacaf got three direct berths in addition to the three host spots. Panama and Curacao earned the other spots.
This story was originally published November 18, 2025 at 10:59 PM.
Michelle Kaufman
Miami Herald
Miami Herald sportswriter Michelle Kaufman has covered 14 Olympics, six World Cups, Wimbledon, U.S. Open, NCAA Basketball Tournaments, NBA Playoffs, Super Bowls and has been the soccer writer and University of Miami basketball beat writer for 25 years. She was born in Frederick, Md., and grew up in Miami.
