Haiti has secured their spot in next summer’s World Cup following a 2-0 victory against Nicaragua on Tuesday. However, their French coach, Sébastien Migne, has yet to set foot in Haiti due to the prevailing instability in the region.
Forced to compete 500 miles away on Curaçao, Haiti completed an impressive qualifying journey, triumphing over favorites Honduras and Costa Rica in Group C.
This will mark Haiti’s first appearance in the World Cup in 52 years, with their previous participation dating back to the 1974 tournament in West Germany.
Travel advisories have been issued for Haiti, where violence and civil unrest have been prevalent since the 2010 earthquake.
Currently, the team is led by Wolves’ French-born midfielder Jean-Richner Bellegarde, and comprises entirely foreign players.
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“Visiting is not feasible because of the danger,” Migne told France Football magazine. “I typically reside where I coach, but in this case, it’s unsafe. There are no international flights to Haiti anymore.”
The Reds are looking to acquire Wilson Isidore, the in-form striker from Sunderland.
Isidore expressed to French sports daily L’Equipe: “My goal is to participate in the World Cup. It’s a dream I hold dear.”
“I have two options: France and Haiti. Haiti has reached out, but I’m still undecided. Right now, my focus is on my club. I know the French national team well, having played both with and against them.”
Haiti’s journey to the World Cup is a powerful story of resilience and determination, especially amid the challenges they face at home. For soccer fans, this not only brings excitement for a new underdog in the tournament but also highlights the broader implications of sports as a unifying force in troubled times.
