On June 25th, Haiti will face Morocco in the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage in the US, Canada, and Mexico. According to Xinhua Sports, Haiti coach Sébastien Migné said at the pre-match press conference: "I have never set foot in Haiti during my time coaching the Haitian team, and I hope to realize this wish someday."

In the first two rounds of the FIFA World Cup group stage in the US, Canada, and Mexico, Haiti lost to Scotland and Brazil, respectively, and was eliminated with one round to spare. However, Migné's achievement in leading Haiti back to the FIFA World Cup stage after 52 years remains significant.

According to previous reports, the Haitian team had no true home ground throughout the World Cup qualifiers, and the coach had never even set foot on Haitian soil. Facing five-time FIFA World Cup winners Brazil, the team chose not to sit back or play conservatively, but instead displayed a spirited, attacking style of football. During the match, every time a Haitian player dribbled into Brazil's penalty area, Haitian fans in the Philadelphia stadium rose to their feet and cheered in unison.

Due to the tense security situation in Haiti, the team could only establish their "home ground" abroad. They lacked familiar stadiums, genuine home support, and stable training conditions. French coach Sébastien Migné has never visited Haiti since taking office in 2024 and has had to rely solely on remote communication and extremely limited national team match windows to build the squad.

Many players on this Haitian team were born and raised in France, Belgium, the United States, and other countries, and some had previously represented the youth teams of other nations before ultimately choosing to wear the Haitian jersey. For them, the national team is not merely a sporting opportunity, but a way to reconnect with their parents, ancestors, and family heritage. Several international media outlets reported before the FIFA World Cup that these players hoped to use football to show the world a Haiti beyond turmoil, poverty, and disaster—one defined by culture, dignity, and cohesion. They have no real home ground, but they have built one through the voices of overseas fans; the coach has never visited Haiti, yet he has led a group of scattered players to rediscover a shared identity.

At the pre-match press conference, Haiti coach Migné said: "Unfortunately, this is the first time I have encountered such a situation. For the past two years, for security reasons, I have been unable to go to Haiti, which you can probably understand."

Most players on the Haitian team play in overseas leagues. Regarding this, Migné said: "I hope to visit Haiti as soon as possible to help discover local football talent. There are many excellent players waiting to be discovered there, and I believe it is no accident that the team has returned to the FIFA World Cup. I cannot confirm the specific timing of the trip, but I hope that day will come soon."

Although eliminated from contention for the FIFA World Cup knockout stage, Migné hopes the team will show strong character in tomorrow's match against Morocco. "Yes, we lost our first two games, but the real failure would be to give up. Whether we are eliminated or not, it is very important to perform well in the third match."

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