Extraordinary achievement in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers

The Haiti football team is on the verge of history, having the opportunity to participate in a World Cup finals for the second time, after the first time since 1974.

Haiti have not appeared at a World Cup since 1974, but have a chance to make history.

Haiti ignited their 2026 World Cup dream with a surprising 1-0 victory over Costa Rica on neutral ground in Curaçao in the early morning of November 14. Frantzdy Pierrot's 44th-minute goal not only defeated legendary goalkeeper Keylor Navas, but also created an earthquake in Group C of the CONCACAF qualifiers.

With the country in turmoil and the team having played all their home games abroad for the past four years, this victory means more than just a football result. It demonstrates the resilience of Les Grenadiers and puts them back in the race for a direct World Cup qualification spot.

With 8 points, Haiti equaled Honduras' record, making the Group C situation suffocating. The final match on November 18 will be decisive. Haiti must beat Nicaragua, and hope Honduras does not beat Costa Rica. That scenario will unfold for the first time in more than half a century that Haiti has appeared in the World Cup.

If they only finish second in the group, Haiti still has a chance to survive as the two second-placed teams with the best records will qualify for the intercontinental play-off round.

Since the US, Mexico and Canada secured their 2026 World Cup spots as co-hosts, the CONCACAF qualifying format has changed: the top three teams in each group qualify directly, creating more opportunities for small football nations like Haiti to write a miracle story.

If Haiti qualify, it will be one of the most remarkable journeys of the upcoming World Cup. But the joy may not be complete: Haitian fans will have difficulty traveling to the US to cheer on their team because President Donald Trump’s immigration ban is still in effect in the country.

However, the victory over Costa Rica has put Haiti in a position few would have dared to imagine. They are facing the opportunity to change history, on a journey full of determination and hope.

Source: https://znews.vn/chien-tich-phi-thuong-o-vong-loai-world-cup-2026-post1602771.html