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The Haitian Times
Bridging the gap
Haiti is aiming for a second consecutive win in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in their upcoming match against Barbados at Wildey Turf in Bridgetown this Sunday.
CAP-HAITIEN — Fresh off their first victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the Haitian men’s national soccer team is keen to maintain its momentum against Barbados in the second qualifying match at Wildey Turf in Bridgetown, Barbados, this Sunday.
“We’re here to win,” stated Haitian defensive midfielder Leverton Pierre in an interview with the Haitian Football Federation ((FHF) on Thursday. “We will play our hardest and get our jerseys wet with Haitian pride.”
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Pierre’s standout performance contributed significantly to Les Grenadiers’ 2-1 victory over Saint Lucia in their first of the two-game series. Despite the victory, the team’s collective performance was subpar, with specific areas such as shooting, needing significant improvement. Haiti managed only six shots on target out of 33 attempts and struggled for creativity against an ultra-defensive Saint Lucia side.
Meanwhile, Les Grenadiers’ next opponent, Barbados suffered a 4-1 defeat to Curaçao in their first World Cup qualifier. With Barbados sitting at 177th in the FIFA rankings and Haiti at 90th, Coach Sébastien Migné’s team is theoretically the favorite, at least on paper. However, recent struggles against lesser-ranked teams, like Saint Lucia, underscore the fact that in sports nothing is won in advance.
Migné emphasized the importance of winning the second qualifying match to secure a comfortable position in the early stages of the qualifiers. “We have to secure three points,” Migné told FHF. “If we gain six points from two games, we’ll be in a good spot.”
The memory of Haiti’s one and only appearance at the World Cup in 1974, where they failed to advance past the group stage, looms large for many fans. However, the 2026 World Cup presents a unique opportunity. With North and Central American powerhouses Canada, United States and Mexico hosting the tournament and thus not participating in the qualifiers, the path to qualification is potentially easier for teams like Haiti.
A victory against Barbados would bolster Haitians’ hopes of reaching the World Cup, while a loss could cast doubt on their qualification chances. Despite the high stakes, Pierre urges Haitian fans to stay hopeful.
“We’re a young team with a lot of talent,” Pierre said. “Keep supporting us. We aim to succeed and take you all to where you want to go [the World Cup].”
Haiti vs Barbados match for Concacaf 2nd round qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be played on June 9, 2024, at 5 p.m. EST.
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Email me at onz@haitiantimes.com
Onz Chery is a Haiti correspondent for The Haitian Times. Chery started his journalism career as a City College of New York student with The Campus. He later wrote for First Touch, local soccer leagues in New York and Elite Sports New York before joining The Haitian Times in 2019.
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