Haiti heads to 2026 World Cup amid jersey ban and midfield injury

Haiti will make its first World Cup appearance since 1974, opening Group C against Scotland at Foxborough, Massachusetts. The squad, largely composed of European‑based players, includes Wolves midfielder Jean‑Ricner Bellegarde and Sunderland forward Wilson Isidor, while coach Sébastien Migné leads the team into its historic debut.

FIFA ordered Haiti to redesign its tournament jerseys because the original design featured a silhouette honoring the 1803 Battle of Vertières, deeming it a political statement. The team will therefore play in a revised kit without the revolutionary motif. In addition, midfielder Leverton Pierre was ruled out for the tournament with a right adductor injury and has been replaced by centre‑back Garven Metusala.

Haiti faces a challenging group that also contains Brazil, Morocco and future matches against the five‑time champions. The controversies and injury come as the Caribbean nation prepares to compete on the world stage for the first time in half a century.