Haiti national football team

The Haiti national football team (French: Équipe d'Haïti de football, Haitian Creole: Ekip foutbòl Ayiti) represents Haiti in international football. Haiti is administered by the Fédération Haïtienne de Football (FHF), the governing body for football in Haiti. They have been a member of FIFA since 1934, a member of CONCACAF since 1961 and a member of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) since 1978. Haiti's home ground is Stade Sylvio Cator in Port-au-Prince and the team's manager is Gabriel Calderón Pellegrino.[10]

Haiti
Nickname(s)Les Grenadiers[1]
(The Grenadiers)
Le Rouge et Bleu[2]
(The Red and Blue)
Les Bicolores[3]
(The Bicolor)
La Sélection Nationale[4] (The National Selection)
AssociationFédération Haïtienne de Football (FHF)
ConfederationCONCACAF (North America)
Sub-confederationCFU (Caribbean)
Head coachSébastien Migné
CaptainJohny Placide
Most capsPierre Richard Bruny (95)
Top scorerEmmanuel Sanon (37)[5]
Home stadiumStade Sylvio Cator
FIFA codeHAI
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 90 Steady (4 April 2024)[6]
Highest38[7] (January 2013)
Lowest155 (April 1996)
First international
 Haiti 1–2 Jamaica 
(Port-au-Prince, Haiti;[8] 22 March 1925)
Biggest win
 Haiti 13–0 Sint Maarten 
(Port-au-Prince, Haiti; 10 September 2018)
Biggest defeat
 Mexico 8–0 Haiti 
(Mexico City, Mexico; 19 July 1953)
 Brazil Olympic Team 9–1 Haiti 
(Chicago, United States; 2 September 1959)
 Costa Rica 8–0 Haiti 
(San José, Costa Rica; 19 March 1961)
World Cup
Appearances1 (first in 1974)
Best resultGroup stage (1974)
CONCACAF Championship / Gold Cup
Appearances16 (first in 1965)
Best resultChampions (1973)
Copa América
Appearances1 (first in 2016)
Best resultGroup stage (2016)

Haiti has one of the longest football traditions in the region and were the second Caribbean team to make the World Cup, after qualifying from winning the 1973 CONCACAF Championship. It was their only appearance in 1974, where they were beaten in the opening group stage by its other three teams, who were all pre-tournament favorites; Italy, Poland, and Argentina.

In 2016, Haiti qualified for the 100th anniversary of the Copa América, by defeating Trinidad and Tobago.

History

Early years

Le Nouvelliste (a Haitian newspaper) of 25 March 1925 describing the encounter between Haiti and Jamaica, who played their first official match on 22 March 1925 against their Caribbean neighbors in Haiti. Haiti was defeated 1–2 to the Jamaicans, as the first goal in Haiti's history was scored by Painson in the 86th minute.[11][12]

Following the affiliation of the Haitian Football Federation with FIFA in 1933, Haiti was able to register for the qualifiers for the 1934 World Cup in Italy. Les Grenadiers led by coach Édouard Baker,[13] played three games against Cuba, all at the Parc Leconte in Port-au-Prince, having lost twice (1–3, 0–6) and one resulting in a 1–1 draw.[14][15]

Haiti would then reappear on the international scene almost twenty years later, since the Federation did not enter the national team for the World Cup qualifiers of the 1938 and 1950. For the 1954 edition held in Switzerland, the team under Frenchman Baron Paul found themselves in a qualification pool with the United States and Mexico. Haiti finished in last place, losing all of its matches, with a very heavy defeat conceded to Mexico 8–0.[16] They would again withdraw from the qualifiers for the World Cup until 1970. Regionally, Haiti won in 1957 in their first participation in the CCCF Championship including a blowout victory against Cuba 6–1[17] and debuted in the 1959 Pan American Games. The selection is defeated heavily by the United States 7–2, and Brazil 9–1, and refused to resume play against Argentina after an arbitration decision.[18] Victorious against Cuba 8–2, the team finished fourth in the competition.[19] After a 1960 season without international meetings,[12] Haiti led by Antoine Tassy,[20] made its second appearance in CCCF Cup in 1961. Second in their group stage behind the host country, Costa Rica, the team finished last the final stage with three defeats in three games and twelve goals conceded to zero goals scored and finished fourth. The team suffered a crushing defeat in its last match to Costa Rica 8–0.[21][22]

In 1961, Haiti joined the CONCACAF, born from the merger of the NAFC and the CCCF. In 1965, Haiti took part in the second edition of the CONCACAF Championship, after being eliminated in qualifying for the inaugural edition (1963 CONCACAF Championship). This continental meeting resulted in a last place finish, losing all five of its matches played; coach Antoine Tassy then resigns.[23][24] However, he returned the following year again as the team's head coach, and won the Coupe Duvalier.[25][26] During the 1967 Qualifiers, Haiti finished first and was undefeated atop of its group, ahead of Trinidad and Tobago.[27] On 16 January 1967, marked its first victory in a competitive match against the Trinidadians, beating them 4–2.[28] However, Haiti in the final round consisting of six teams, finished in fifth place, defeating Nicaragua 2–1 to avoid last place.

As part of the qualifiers for the 1970 World Cup hosted by Mexico, Haiti are engaged in group 2, in the company of Guatemala and Trinidad and Tobago. Directed by Antoine Tassy, Haiti was relevant for the first time in qualifying for the World Cup on 23 November 1968, in Port of Spain against Trinidad and Tobago. Haiti will reach rank at the top of the pool with wins against Trinidad and Tobago 4–0 and Guatemala 2–0, one draw against Guatemala 1–1, and one defeat conceded at home against Trinidad and Tobago 2–4 which enabled them to qualify to the second round. They then eliminated the United States before heading to the final round against El Salvador. Haiti lost the opening match at home 1–2, but managed to rebound and win 3–0 in San Salvador before losing again on neutral ground in Kingston in Jamaica, 1–0 in overtime.[29]

At the CONCACAF Championship in 1969, Haiti was disqualified from the final round, when it had qualified in the field by beating the United States (the qualifying round is coupled with the qualifications for the World Cup 1970). Instead, the Federation was unable to register its team for the final round on time to the CONCACAF and therefore could not participate in the final round.[30]

The Golden Age

Haiti and their captain Wilner Nazaire against Italy at the 1974 World Cup.

The 1970s could be considered a golden age for Haitian football.[citation needed] Its status in the region remained very strong, being considered the third strongest team in the CONCACAF after Mexico and arguably Costa Rica.[31] With Antoine Tassy as coach for much of this period, Haiti emerged as one of the strongest teams in the CONCACAF zone, being pooled with other regionally strong football nations such as Mexico and Costa Rica. By 1965, players like Henri Francillon, Philippe Vorbe, Guy Renold Jean François and Guy Saint-Vil were already playing in the team and would be stalwarts of the side in the coming years.

The team reached the final round of the qualifiers for the 1970 World Cup, where they faced El Salvador. After losing the first leg 2–1 at home, the team pulled off a 3–0 win at El Salvador. With each team having one win, the rules of the day dictated a play-off on neutral ground which El Salvador won to secure a place in the 1970 World Cup.[32]

In the 1974 World Cup qualifiers, Haiti once again reached the final round in a qualifying tournament completely played at home. This time, they topped the group and qualified for their first appearance at the 1974 World Cup. In West Germany, they drew a tough group consisting of Italy, Argentina and Poland. The first half of their debut game against Italy ended in a scoreless draw, but the team surprised the football world when star forward Emmanuel Sanon scored shortly after the break to give Haiti a 1–0 lead. Although the Italians eventually came back to win the game 3–1, Sanon's goal ended goal keeper Dino Zoff's record run of 1143 minutes without conceding a goal in international matches.[32] The team went on to lose to Poland (0–7) and Argentina (1–4) to finish last in their group.[33]

Post 1970s

Haiti would reach the final rounds of the 1978 and 1982 qualifiers, but failed to make the cut. The years since have seen Haiti's footballing status decline markedly. In recent years, the political situation in the country has led to numerous defections from members of the football team. The team has rebuilt somewhat through the Haitian diaspora in Miami, Florida, and some Haitian home games have been played in Miami in recent years. Haiti as of recently has been rising once again as a footballing power in the CONCACAF. In a January 2010 earthquake at least 30 people with ties to Haitian football perished, including players, coaches, referees and administrative and medical representatives. Twenty others with ties to Haitian football were feared to be buried in the ruins.[34][35][36]

Post Earthquake

In November 2011, Haiti was knocked out of the qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup by Antigua and Barbuda under the leadership of Brazilian coach Edson Tavares. In 2012, Tavares was replaced by Cuban coach Israel Blake Cantero who led the national team through the 2012 Caribbean Championship. Haiti finished third in the Caribbean Championship warranting a spot in the 2013 Gold Cup. The following year, Haiti would have a bad string of defeats against Chile, Bolivia, Oman and the Dominican Republic. In June 2013, Haiti bounced back from these shortcomings with a close 2–1 loss to reigning world champions Spain and an impressive 2–2 draw with footballing powerhouse Italy, with goals in both games scored by Wilde-Donald Guerrier, Olrish Saurel and Jean-Philippe Peguero respectively. The 2018 World Cup qualifiers had Haiti beating Grenada to reach the fourth round, where they fell off with only four points - one for a goalless draw with Panama, three for beating Jamaica in Kingston. In 2019, they made the farthest they ever had in the CONCACAF Gold Cup by going 3–0 in the group stages including a last-minute goal against Costa Rica and coming back from a 2–0 deficit against Canada in the Quarter-finals, winning the game 3–2. However, it all stopped after Mexico got away with a controversial foul which gave Mexico a penalty shot. They would lose the game 1–0.

Team image

Colours

The Haiti national team utilizes a two-colour system, composed of red and blue. The team's two colours originate from the national flag of Haiti,[37] known as the bicolore. Although, during the Duvalier administration in Haiti, the country undergone a color change to its flag, swapping out the blue for black[38] and it reflected in its 1974 World Cup kit and federation crest.[39][40]

Since the team's inception, Haiti's kit has undergone numerous color pattern variations. The home kit has traditionally been either all blue or a variation of predominately blue shirts, with red shorts and blue socks, while the away kit has traditionally been inversely worn that is either all red or a variation of predominately red shirts, with blue shorts and red socks.[41] Haiti has occasionally had a third kit, which has traditionally been all white, which the current kit features, along with its all blue colours at home and all red colours away.[42] Haiti also wears the crest of the Federation on its shirt and at times on its shorts as well.

Haiti has been provided kits by a number of manufacturers, some of which have been from a few local and lesser known suppliers. The first known kit manufacturer was Adidas for the 1974 World Cup.[39] In 2013, a five-year contract was reached with Colombian manufacturer, Saeta for $1 million.[43][44] After 8 years, the Haitian Federation and Saeta are terminating their agreement. The details of the end date of their contract and the reason for the termination has not yet been released to the general public.[45]

Kit suppliers

Kit supplierPeriodNote
Adidas1974[46]
Uhlsport1998[47]
Finta2000[48]
Sport Globe2002[48]
Joma2004[48]
Umbro2004–2006[48]
Finta2006[48][46]
Diadora2007[48]
Finta2007–2008[48]
Wanga Neguess2008[48]
Plus One2009[48]
Wanga Neguess2010[48]
Adidas2010–2013[49]
Saeta2013–present[43][44]

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win  Draw  Loss  Fixture

2023

v  Haiti
25 March 2023 2022–23 Nations League Montserrat  0–4  Haiti Lookout, Montserrat
17:00 UTC−4Report
Stadium: Blakes Estate Stadium
Referee: Bryan López (Guatemala)
v  Bermuda
28 March 2023 2022–23 Nations League Haiti  3–1  Bermuda San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic
18:00 UTC−4
Report
  • Bean 75'
Stadium: Estadio Panamericano
Referee: Melvin Matamoros (Honduras)
v  Qatar
25 June 2023 2023 Gold Cup Haiti  2–1  Qatar Houston, United States
17:00 UTC−5
ReportStadium: NRG Stadium
Attendance: 66,255
Referee: Daneon Parchment (Jamaica)
v  Mexico
29 June 2023 2023 Gold Cup Haiti  1–3  Mexico Glendale, United States
19:00 UTC−7Report
Stadium: State Farm Stadium
Attendance: 34,517
Referee: Walter López (Guatemala)
v  Haiti
2 July 2023 2023 Gold Cup Honduras  2–1  Haiti Charlotte, United States
21:00 UTC−4ReportStadium: Bank of America Stadium
Attendance: 47,382
Referee: Oshane Nation (Jamaica)
v  Cuba
8 September 2023 (2023-09-08) 2023–24 Nations League Haiti  0–0  Cuba Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
16:00 UTC−4ReportStadium: Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium
Attendance: 550
Referee: Randy Encarnación (Dominican Republic)
v  Haiti
12 September 2023 2023–24 Nations League Jamaica  2–2  Haiti Kingston, Jamaica
19:00 UTC−5Report
Stadium: Independence Park
Referee: César Arturo Ramos (Mexico)
v  Haiti
12 October 2023 2023–24 Nations League Suriname  1–1  Haiti Paramaribo, Suriname
19:00 UTC−3
ReportStadium: Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadion
Referee: Víctor Cáceres (Mexico)
v  Jamaica
15 October 2023 2023–24 Nations League Haiti  2–3  Jamaica Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
20:00 UTC−4
ReportStadium: Hasely Crawford Stadium
Referee: Mario Escobar (Guatemala)

2024

2025

Coaching staff

Current staff

NamePosition
Sebastien MigneHead coach
Carlo MarcelinAssistant coach
Chéry PierreAssistant coach
Ernst Jean-BaptisteFitness coach

Coaching history

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.
Notes

Players

Current squad

The following players were called for the 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League A matches against Suriname and Jamaica, on 12 and 15 October 2023; respectively.

Caps and goals are correct as of 15 October 2023, after the match against  Jamaica.

No.Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClub
11GKJohny Placide (captain) (1988-01-29) 29 January 1988 (age 36)650 Bastia
121GKAlexandre Pierre (2001-02-25) 25 February 2001 (age 23)80 Strasbourg B
231GKGarissone Innocent (2000-04-16) 16 April 2000 (age 24)10 Eupen

22DFCarlens Arcus (1996-06-28) 28 June 1996 (age 27)371 Vitesse
32DFMechack Jérôme (1990-04-21) 21 April 1990 (age 34)804 Indy Eleven
42DFRicardo Adé (1990-05-21) 21 May 1990 (age 33)382 LDU Quito
62DFFrancois Dulysse (1999-04-13) 13 April 1999 (age 25)80 Egnatia
142DFStéphane Lambese (1995-04-10) 10 April 1995 (age 29)191 Lokomotiv Sofia
152DFSteven Séance (1992-02-20) 20 February 1992 (age 32)81 Sedan
222DFAlex Junior Christian (1993-05-12) 12 May 1993 (age 30)521 Aksu

53MFDjimy Alexis (1997-10-08) 8 October 1997 (age 26)111 Hapoel Petah Tikva
83MFCarl Fred Sainté (2002-08-09) 9 August 2002 (age 21)150 North Texas
133MFJeppe Simonsen (1995-11-21) 21 November 1995 (age 28)151 Académico de Viseu
173MFMikaël Cantave (1996-10-25) 25 October 1996 (age 27)142 Vancouver
213MFBryan Alceus (1996-02-01) 1 February 1996 (age 28)380 Doxa Katokopias

94FWDuckens Nazon (1994-04-07) 7 April 1994 (age 30)5728 Kayserispor
104FWLouicius Don Deedson (2001-02-11) 11 February 2001 (age 23)72 OB
114FWFafà Picault (1991-02-23) 23 February 1991 (age 33)50 Vancouver Whitecaps
194FWJonel Désiré (1997-02-12) 12 February 1997 (age 27)222 Alashkert
204FWFrantzdy Pierrot (1995-03-29) 29 March 1995 (age 29)3021 Maccabi Haifa

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up within the last twelve months.

Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClubLatest call-up
GKJosué Duverger (2000-04-27) 27 April 2000 (age 24)60 Santarém2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup

DFAndrew Jean-Baptiste (1992-06-16) 16 June 1992 (age 31)162unattachedv.  Bermuda, 28 March 2023
DFMartin Expérience (1999-03-09) 9 March 1999 (age 25)50 Choletv.  Bermuda, 28 March 2023
DFWilde-Donald Guerrier (1989-03-31) 31 March 1989 (age 35)6111unattached2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup
DFGarven Metusala (1999-12-31)31 December 1999 (aged 23)80 Forgev.  Jamaica, 13 September 2023

MFSteeven Saba (1993-02-24)24 February 1993 (aged 30)224 Violette2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup
MFLeverton Pierre (1998-03-09) 9 March 1998 (age 26)160 Avranches2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup
MFDanley Jean Jacques (2000-05-20) 20 May 2000 (age 23)81 Metzv.  Jamaica, 13 September 2023
MFDerrick Etienne (1996-11-25) 25 November 1996 (age 27)458 Toronto FCv.  Jamaica, 13 September 2023
MFRoberto Louima (1997-04-03) 3 April 1997 (age 27)50 Violettev.  Jamaica, 13 September 2023

FWFredler Christophe (2002-01-11) 11 January 2002 (age 22)71 Chateaurouxv.  Bermuda, 28 March 2023
FWDany Jean (2002-11-28) 28 November 2002 (age 21)61 Avranchesv.  Bermuda, 28 March 2023
FWMondy Prunier (1999-12-22) 22 December 1999 (age 24)105 Versaillesv.  Jamaica, 13 September 2023
FWCarnejy Antoine (1991-07-27) 27 July 1991 (age 32)1912 Torreensev.  Jamaica, 13 September 2023
FWJayro Jean (1998-06-22)22 June 1998 (aged 25)50 Always Readyv.  Jamaica, 13 September 2023
FWShanyder Borgelin (2001-10-19) 19 October 2001 (age 22)10 Inter Miamiv.  Jamaica, 13 September 2023

INJ Withdrew due to an injury.
PRE Preliminary squad.
WD Withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issues.

Player records

As of 15 October 2023[85]
The FHF's archives have been displaced by earthquakes and civil unrest; data on early Haitian players is still being investigated.[5]
Players in bold are still active with Haiti.

Most appearances

Pierre Richard Bruny is Haiti's most capped player with 95 appearances.
RankPlayerCapsGoalsPeriod
1Pierre Richard Bruny9521998–2010
2Mechack Jérôme8042008–present
3Frantz Gilles7822000–2010
4Jean Sony Alcénat6772006–2016
Peter Germain6732001–2012
6Johny Placide6502011–present
Emmanuel Sanon65371970–1981
8Wilde-Donald Guerrier61112010–present
9Duckens Nazon57282014–present
10Monès Chéry5362003–2010

Most goals

RankPlayerGoalsCapsRatioPeriod
1Emmanuel Sanon37650.571970–1981
2Duckens Nazon28570.492014–present
3Golman Pierre23280.821996–2003
4Frantzdy Pierrot21300.72018–present
5Jean-Philippe Peguero16280.572003–2013
6Kervens Belfort14410.342010–2017
7Éliphène Cadet13420.312004–2010
8Carnejy Antoine12210.572021–present
Jean-Eudes Maurice12300.42011–2016
10Alexandre Boucicaut11510.222001–2011
Wilde-Donald Guerrier11610.182010–present

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World CupQualification
YearResultPositionPldWD*LFASquadPldWDLFA
1930Not a FIFA memberNot a FIFA member
1934Did not qualify3012210
1938Did not enterDeclined participation
1950
1954Did not qualify4004218
1958Did not enterDeclined participation
1962
1966
1970Did not qualify9513168
1974Group stage15th3003214Squad7601203
1978Did not qualify10721168
19829234611
19866105511
1990Did not enterDeclined participation
1994Did not qualify210122
1998421198
20026411225
2006421184
20108143513
20146411216
2018831485
20225302134
2026To be determinedTo be determined
2030
2034
TotalGroup stage1/21300321491411634142116

CONCACAF Gold Cup

CONCACAF Championship & Gold Cup recordQualification record
YearResultPositionPldWD*LGFGASquadPldWDLGFGA
1963Did not qualify200214
1965Sixth place6th5014313SquadQualified automatically
1967Fifth place5th510459Squad431073
1969Disqualified220030
1971Runners-up2nd523091SquadQualified automatically
1973Champions1st540183Squad2200120
1977Runners-up2nd531166Squad7520193
1981Sixth place6th502329Squad421142
1985Group stage9th400409Squad210152
1989Did not enterDid not enter
1991Did not qualify211043
1993Did not enterDid not enter
1996
1998WithdrewWithdrew
2000Group stage11th201114Squad106132211
2002Quarter-finals7th310234Squad8521309
2003Did not qualify530276
2005530276
2007Group stage10th302124Squad138142712
2009Quarter-finals8th411247Squad311144
2011Did not qualify311135
2013Group stage9th310223Squad11812195
2015Quarter-finals6th411223Squad7331139
2017Did not qualify64021514
2019Semi-finals3rd540195Squad4400192
2021Group stage11th310236Squad6232136
2023Group stage12th310246Squad6510225
Total1 Title16/27642012326392112691925256111

CONCACAF Nations League

CONCACAF Nations League record
LeagueFinals
SeasonDivisionGroupPldWDLGFGAP/RFinalsResultPldWDLGFGASquad
2019–20AD403134 2021Did not qualify
2022–23BB6510225 2023
2023–24AB403156 2024
2024–25BTo be determined 2025
Total145723015Total0 Titles

Copa América

Copa América record
YearResultPositionPldWD*LGFGASquad
19931 to 2015Not invited
20162Group stage16th3003112Squad
2019Not invited
2021
2024Did not qualify
TotalGroup stage1/133003112
1 Ecuador 1993 was the first time nations from outside the CONMEBOL were invited.
2 United States 2016 was the first time nations from outside the CONMEBOL could qualify and host.

Caribbean Cup

CFU Championship & Caribbean Cup recordQualification
YearResultPositionPldWD*LGFGASquadPldWDLGFGA
1978Third place3rd311135Squad422074
1979Champions1st330041Squad440090
1981Did not enterDid not enter
1983
1985
1988
1989
1990
1991Did not qualify211043
1992Did not enterDid not enter
1993
1994Group stage5th311146Squad110010
1995Did not enterDid not enter
1996Group stage6th302123Squad211071
1997WithdrewWithdrew
1998Third place3rd5302108Squad220090
1999Third place3rd4202812Squad3300120
2001Runners-up2nd5221136Squad3300173
2005Did not qualify7412185
2007Champions1st540195Squad8413187
2008Group stage5th311144SquadQualified as champions
2010Did not qualify311135
2012Third place3rd531174Squad6501153
2014Third place3rd421175Squad312064
2017Did not qualify42111210
Total2 Titles11/2543229127159523410813845
*Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

CCCF Championship

CCCF Championship record
YearResultPositionPldWD*LGFGA
1941 to 1955Did not enter
1957Champions1st4400144
1960Withdrew
1961Fourth place4th6303817
Total1 Title2/10107032221

Pan American Games

Pan American Games record
YearResultPositionPldWD*LGFGA
1951Did not participate
1955
1959Fourth place4th63031920
1963Did not participate
1967
1971Group stage6th302145
1975Did not participate
1979Withdrew from qualifiers[86]
1983Did not participate
1987
1991Group stage5th3111138
1995Did not participate
Since 1999See Haiti national under-23 football team
TotalFourth place3/12124353633

Honours

Major competitions

Minor competitions

Friendly competitions

  • Saint Kitts and Nevis Football Festival
    • Winners (1): 2003
  • Haiti International Tournament
    • Winners (1): 1997
  • Coupe Duvalier
  • Triangular Tournament[87]
    • Winners (1): 1956
  • Paul Magloire President Cup
    • Winners (1): 1956

See also

References

External links