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The 2026 FIFA World Cup is nearly upon us, and a Caribbean nation set to make its first appearance on soccer's biggest stage in a half century is shipping up to Boston.
The Haiti Men's National Team is making its first World Cup appearance since 1974 and its first match at the tournament in 52 years will take place in Foxboro.
Les Grenadiers have drawn a challenging group, including the most successful national team in World Cup history in Brazil, which played and lost 2-0 in a friendly against France at Gillette Stadium (which will be referred to as “Boston Stadium” for sponsorship reasons for the duration of the World Cup) on March 26.
With Haiti releasing its 26-man squad list for the World Cup on Friday, May 15, here’s what to know about Les Grenadiers ahead of kickoff.
Les Grenadiers will look to rely on scoring up front from a solid trio of forwards in Duckens Nazon, Don Deedson Louicius and Frantzdy Pierrot, who all proved crucial in Haiti's World Cup qualification. Full back/winger Duke Lacroix is a versatile player capable of contributing on both ends of the pitch, while forward Ruben Providence and midfielder Danley Jean Jacques will also look to be key contributors.
Midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde provides Haiti with Premier League experience, as the first player in his nation's history to play in the famed English top flight. Veteran captain and goalkeeper Johny Placide, meanwhile, can be called on to provide experienced leadership in net.
Haiti will take part in the first match of the World Cup in Foxboro, facing off with Scotland on June 11 with a 9 p.m. kickoff scheduled. This will be the only match for Les Grenadiers at Boston Stadium regardless of if they advance past the group stage.
Here is Haiti's complete Group C schedule:
Forward Frantzdy Pierrot, who plays for Turkish club Çaykur Rizespor on loan from Greek giants AEK Athens, was born in Cap-Haïtien but raised in Melrose, MA. He was a standout on both the pitch and the basketball court for Melrose High before going on to play soccer collegiately at Northeastern and Coastal Carolina. He was selected 27th overall in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft by the Colorado Rapids, but opted to seek out a professional career in Europe, joining Belgian club Mouscron instead. Since then, the now 31-year-old has also played in France and Israel.
This will mark the second-ever World Cup for Les Grenadiers, with its last appearance coming in 1974 in Germany. During that tournament, Haiti finished at the bottom of a stacked Group 4, going 0-3 with losses to Italy (3-1), eventual third place finishers Poland (7-0) and Argentina (4-1).
Haiti will stay and train at the voco Sandpiper All-Inclusive Resort in Port St. Lucie, FL from May 24-June 8, per Patrick Bernadeau of TCPalm. Les Grenadiers will also play a pair of friendlies in South Florida during that time, taking on New Zealand at Chase Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale on June 2 before facing Peru at Nu Stadium in Miami on June 5. From there, the team will move north to New Jersey, basing itself out of Stockton University in Galloway Township while staying at the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel in Atlantic City, per the Cherry Hill Courier-Post's Jim Walsh.
Goalkeepers: Jhony Placide (SC Bastia), Alexandre Pierre (FC Sochaux-Montbéliard), Josue Duverger (FC Cosmos Koblenz)
Defenders: Carlens Arcus (Angers SCO), Wilguens Paugain (Zulte Waregem), Duke Lacroix (Colorado Springs Switchbacks), Martin Experience (AS Nancy), Jean-Kévin Duverne (KAA Gent), Ricardo Ade (LDU Quito), Hannes Delcroix (FC Lugano), Keeto Thermoncy (BSC Young Boys)
Midfielders: Carl Fred Sainté (El Paso Locomotive), Leverton Pierre (FC Vizela), Danley Jean Jacques (Philadelphia Union), Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Woodensky Pierre (Violette AC), Dominique Simon (FC Tatran Prešov)
Forwards: Don Deedson Louicius (FC Dallas), Josue Casimir (AJ Auxerre), Derrick Etienne (Toronto FC), Ruben Providence (Almere City FC), Duckens Nazon (Esteghlal FC), Frantzdy Pierrot (Çaykur Rizespor), Wilson Isidor (Sunderland AFC), Yassin Fortuné (FC Vizela), Lenny Joseph (Ferencváros)
This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: What you should know about the Haiti Men's National Soccer Team
Continue reading...
The Haiti Men's National Team is making its first World Cup appearance since 1974 and its first match at the tournament in 52 years will take place in Foxboro.
Les Grenadiers have drawn a challenging group, including the most successful national team in World Cup history in Brazil, which played and lost 2-0 in a friendly against France at Gillette Stadium (which will be referred to as “Boston Stadium” for sponsorship reasons for the duration of the World Cup) on March 26.
With Haiti releasing its 26-man squad list for the World Cup on Friday, May 15, here’s what to know about Les Grenadiers ahead of kickoff.
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Who are the key players for Haiti?
Les Grenadiers will look to rely on scoring up front from a solid trio of forwards in Duckens Nazon, Don Deedson Louicius and Frantzdy Pierrot, who all proved crucial in Haiti's World Cup qualification. Full back/winger Duke Lacroix is a versatile player capable of contributing on both ends of the pitch, while forward Ruben Providence and midfielder Danley Jean Jacques will also look to be key contributors.
Midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde provides Haiti with Premier League experience, as the first player in his nation's history to play in the famed English top flight. Veteran captain and goalkeeper Johny Placide, meanwhile, can be called on to provide experienced leadership in net.
When is Haiti playing at Boston Stadium?
Haiti will take part in the first match of the World Cup in Foxboro, facing off with Scotland on June 11 with a 9 p.m. kickoff scheduled. This will be the only match for Les Grenadiers at Boston Stadium regardless of if they advance past the group stage.
Here is Haiti's complete Group C schedule:
- June 13- Haiti vs. Scotland, 9 p.m. at Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium)
- June 19- Haiti vs. Brazil, 8:30 p.m. at Philadelphia Stadium (Lincoln Financial Field)
- June 24- Haiti vs. Morocco, 6:30 p.m. at Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
Is there a player on Haiti with local ties?
Forward Frantzdy Pierrot, who plays for Turkish club Çaykur Rizespor on loan from Greek giants AEK Athens, was born in Cap-Haïtien but raised in Melrose, MA. He was a standout on both the pitch and the basketball court for Melrose High before going on to play soccer collegiately at Northeastern and Coastal Carolina. He was selected 27th overall in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft by the Colorado Rapids, but opted to seek out a professional career in Europe, joining Belgian club Mouscron instead. Since then, the now 31-year-old has also played in France and Israel.
How many World Cup appearances has Haiti made?
This will mark the second-ever World Cup for Les Grenadiers, with its last appearance coming in 1974 in Germany. During that tournament, Haiti finished at the bottom of a stacked Group 4, going 0-3 with losses to Italy (3-1), eventual third place finishers Poland (7-0) and Argentina (4-1).
Where is Haiti training?
Haiti will stay and train at the voco Sandpiper All-Inclusive Resort in Port St. Lucie, FL from May 24-June 8, per Patrick Bernadeau of TCPalm. Les Grenadiers will also play a pair of friendlies in South Florida during that time, taking on New Zealand at Chase Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale on June 2 before facing Peru at Nu Stadium in Miami on June 5. From there, the team will move north to New Jersey, basing itself out of Stockton University in Galloway Township while staying at the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel in Atlantic City, per the Cherry Hill Courier-Post's Jim Walsh.
Haiti Men’s National Team 2026 FIFA World Cup 26-man squad
Goalkeepers: Jhony Placide (SC Bastia), Alexandre Pierre (FC Sochaux-Montbéliard), Josue Duverger (FC Cosmos Koblenz)
Defenders: Carlens Arcus (Angers SCO), Wilguens Paugain (Zulte Waregem), Duke Lacroix (Colorado Springs Switchbacks), Martin Experience (AS Nancy), Jean-Kévin Duverne (KAA Gent), Ricardo Ade (LDU Quito), Hannes Delcroix (FC Lugano), Keeto Thermoncy (BSC Young Boys)
Midfielders: Carl Fred Sainté (El Paso Locomotive), Leverton Pierre (FC Vizela), Danley Jean Jacques (Philadelphia Union), Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Woodensky Pierre (Violette AC), Dominique Simon (FC Tatran Prešov)
Forwards: Don Deedson Louicius (FC Dallas), Josue Casimir (AJ Auxerre), Derrick Etienne (Toronto FC), Ruben Providence (Almere City FC), Duckens Nazon (Esteghlal FC), Frantzdy Pierrot (Çaykur Rizespor), Wilson Isidor (Sunderland AFC), Yassin Fortuné (FC Vizela), Lenny Joseph (Ferencváros)
This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: What you should know about the Haiti Men's National Soccer Team
Continue reading...
