Haiti Coach Leads Nation to World Cup Despite Having Never Set Foot in Country

Against all odds, Sebastien Migne has guided underdogs Haiti to next summer's World Cup, despite having never been to the Caribbean island since being appointed manager 18 months ago.

For the first time since 1974, the Caribbean island of Haiti will participate in a World Cup finals after they recorded a 2-0 home win over Nicaragua.

Migne's side finished top of a group including Honduras and Costa Rica, who are both positioned higher in the FIFA world rankings. They recorded a 0-0 draw on a dramatic Tuesday night in La Sabana.

Meanwhile at the Ergilio Hato Stadium in Curacao, an island located just off the coast of Venezuela, players and staff from Haiti celebrated after watching the final stages of Costa Rica vs. Honduras on someone's phone.

The match took place in Curacao because ongoing conflict in Haiti has forced them to play 500 miles away from their home.

For years, the country has struggled with political instability, poverty, and natural disasters – including devastating earthquakes and hurricanes – but an escalation in gang violence has pushed Haiti into a new era of insecurity.

As per Amnesty International, armed gangs are striking the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area and its surroundings with terror and violence, including rape and other forms of sexual violence.

"Children are targeted and regularly exploited by gangs," says the above report. "Almost any street could become a battlefield. Food is scarce and half of the country’s population face acute hunger."

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to Haiti due to the volatile security situation.

As a result of the situation in Haiti, Sebastien Migne, the team's manager, has never set foot in the country since being appointed in 2024.

"It's impossible because it's too dangerous," he told French publication L'Equipe. "I usually live in the countries where I work, but I can't here. There are no more international flights landing there."

Migne, who has relied on information about local players from Haitian football federation officials, has managed to convince a handful of experienced heads to join the ranks, including Wolves midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde.

"I feel like I'm representing my family," Bellegarde said about representing Haiti. "It is a small country, but now we have the chance to play at the World Cup, so my family tells me it's a good moment to play for Haiti, and I think it's a big opportunity for me."