What a night for Haiti! On Vertières Day—no less—Les Grenadiers delivered a masterclass, powering to a commanding 2-0 victory over Nicaragua at Stadion Ergilio Hato in Curaçao. Goals from Louicius Deedson (9′) and Ruben Providence (46′) sealed the deal, but the real drama? The squad huddling mid-pitch, eyes glued to a teammate’s phone for the Costa Rica-Honduras result. When that 0-0 whistle blew, the eruption of joy was pure magic—Haiti’s first World Cup berth since 1974, and only their second ever. From the diaspora in Miami, Brooklyn, Montreal, and Boston to fans back home glued to streams, this one’s for every Haitian heart. Resilience on and off the field? Unmatched.
The momentum from Thursday’s 1-0 grind against Costa Rica carried over, with Frantzdy Pierrot’s grit up top, Johny Placide’s wall in goal, and stars like Duckens Nazon (CONCACAF’s qualifying top scorer), Derrick Etienne Jr., Ricardo Adé, and Carlens Arcus locking it down. Even Wolves midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde went the full 90, adding that Premier League steel. Shoutout to coach Sébastien Migné—leading from afar via federation calls due to security woes, yet guiding this diaspora-powered squad to glory. He’s never set foot in Haiti, but tonight? He etched his name in the island’s soul.
Global reactions are pouring in: Celebrations lit up Port-au-Prince streets (safely, we hope), viral clips of the phone-watch moment are everywhere, and even ESPN FC called it “the beautiful game” at its finest. Haiti’s not just qualified—they’ve inspired. A unifying beacon amid the chaos, proving small nations with giant spirits can shock the world. Again.
Relive the magic on Paramount+ replays or CONCACAF’s YouTube highlights. What’s next? Group draw on Dec. 5—watch #Haiti get slotted in. Ayiti, nou fè! Who’s ready for 2026? Let’s keep the pride rolling.
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