Haiti Qualifies for World Cup for First Time in 50 Years with 1-0 Win Over Costa Rica

The roar that echoed through the streets of Port-au-Prince wasn’t from a parade—it was from a nation finally breathing again. On November 13, 2025, Haiti national football team, known as the Grenadiers, stunned the football world with a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica at Estadio Ergilio Hato in Willemstad, Curacao. The goal, a clinical finish by 30-year-old forward Frantzdy Pierrot in the 44th minute, wasn’t just the match-winner—it was the final nail in a 50-year coffin. Haiti had done it: they were going to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. For the first time since 1974.

A Nation That Couldn’t Host, But Couldn’t Be Silenced

Haiti’s journey to this moment was anything but conventional. With gang violence rendering their own stadiums unsafe, the Grenadiers had played every "home" match of the CONCACAF qualifiers on neutral soil. Curacao became their temporary home. Willemstad, a Caribbean island known for its colorful Dutch colonial architecture, became the unlikely epicenter of Haitian football pride. The Estadio Ergilio Hato, usually buzzing with Curaçaoan fans, was filled with red and blue—Haiti’s colors—on this night. Thousands of Haitians in the diaspora flew in. Others watched from makeshift screens in tent cities, where electricity was scarce but hope wasn’t.

"They played like men with nothing left to lose," said Jean-Claude Bélizaire, a former Haitian international turned commentator, speaking from Miami. "They’ve been told for decades that football can’t change anything here. But tonight? It changed everything."

The Match That Broke the Curse

The final group standings in CONCACAF Third Round Group C were tight: Honduras finished top with 8 points and a +3 goal differential, while Haiti, also with 8 points, edged out second place on goal difference (+1). Costa Rica, a three-time World Cup veteran (2014, 2018, 2022), limped out with 6 points. Their elimination was as shocking as Haiti’s rise.

Pierrot’s goal came from a well-worked move: a diagonal pass from midfielder Jean Jacques, a flick from forward Bellegarde, and then—pure instinct. Pierrot, unmarked in the box, volleyed the ball past goalkeeper Keylor Navas with a left foot that had carried him through leagues in France, Turkey, and the MLS. It was his 33rd goal for Haiti, a national record. The stadium fell silent. Then, chaos.

Costa Rica had chances. A penalty appeal in the 68th minute was waved off. A header from Bryan Ruiz clanged off the post. Haiti’s defense, led by captain Lacroix and goalkeeper Placide, held firm under pressure. The final whistle blew after 90+6 minutes. No one moved. Then, the tears came.

Underdogs Against All Odds

The betting markets had seen it coming—sort of. Haiti entered the match as +321 underdogs. A $100 bet would net $421. The over/under was set at 2.5 goals. The under won. One goal. One moment. One legacy.

"No one expected this," said Carlos Quirós, Costa Rica’s substitute who was pulled at the 54th minute. "We thought we had this. But Haiti? They played like they were playing for their lives. And maybe they were."

That’s the unspoken truth. In Haiti, football isn’t just sport. It’s escape. It’s dignity. It’s proof that something beautiful can still grow in the cracks of a broken system. While gangs control 80% of Port-au-Prince’s streets, and the government struggles to pay teachers, Haitians danced in the rubble of collapsed buildings, sang the national anthem through megaphones, and lit candles in front of murals of Pierrot.

What This Means for Haitian Football

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Haiti’s qualification opens doors: funding, youth academies, international sponsorships. The Haitian Football Federation has already signaled plans to build a permanent training center in the north, away from the violence. FIFA has pledged to review Haiti’s hosting status for future qualifiers.

"This isn’t just about one team," said Michel D’Aubuisson, a sports sociologist at the University of Port-au-Prince. "It’s about rebuilding identity. When a child sees Pierrot on TV and thinks, ‘I can do that too,’ that’s the real victory."

For the first time in half a century, Haiti’s name will be on the World Cup draw. The Grenadiers will face giants. But they’ve already beaten the odds.

What’s Next?

Haiti’s World Cup group stage opponents won’t be drawn until December 2025. But preparations are already underway. The national team will hold a training camp in Florida in January. Youth tournaments are being launched in every department. And in a country where the average income is under $1,500 a year, ticket sales for the World Cup are already surging—through diaspora networks and digital crowdfunding.

"We don’t have much," said 12-year-old Kervens Jean, who painted his face red and blue and walked 12 miles to watch the match on a neighbor’s TV. "But now? We have a team that believes. And that’s enough."