Haiti World Cup 2026 Squad: Full 26-Man Roster, Bellegarde Leads Grenadiers Return After 52 Years

Sébastien Migné named Haiti’s final 26-man squad on May 24, 2026 — a list of names that ends a 52-year wait. The Grenadiers’ only previous World Cup appearance was West Germany 1974, where they lost all three group matches but scored twice against Argentina and Italy. Half a century later, Haiti returns carrying the weight of a nation that has endured political turmoil, natural disasters, and footballing obscurity — and still produced players good enough for the Premier League, Ligue 1, and MLS. Group C is brutal: Brazil (five-time champion), Morocco (2022 semi-finalist), and Scotland (first World Cup since 1998). Haiti is the longest of long shots, but the Grenadiers of 1974 were too — and Emmanuel Sanon scored against Italy.

Confirmed 26-man squad

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

Key inclusions

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde — the Premier League captain. Bellegarde is Haiti’s highest-profile footballer: a regular starter for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League, capable of playing as a No. 8 or No. 10. His ball-carrying, progressive passing, and physicality in central midfield make him the best Haitian footballer since the legendary Emmanuel Sanon. He wears the armband not because of caps (22) but because his club level demands it — he is the one player in this squad who competes at the highest level every week.

Duckens Nazon — the record scorer. Nazon’s 32 international goals make him Haiti’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Sanon’s legendary mark. Now 32 and playing in Iran (Esteghlal), his best years are behind him — but his penalty-box instincts, physical presence, and big-game experience are irreplaceable. He scored 6 goals in CONCACAF qualifying, including the goal that mathematically secured qualification. This World Cup is his career’s validation.

Danley Jean Jacques — the MLS engine. Jean Jacques has been one of MLS’s most consistent defensive midfielders at Philadelphia Union. His ability to cover ground, win duels, and launch counter-attacks gives Haiti’s midfield a defensive spine that the 1974 team never had. Against Brazil’s midfield, he will be the busiest player on the pitch.

Hannes Delcroix — the Belgian-born defender. Born in Port-au-Prince but developed in Belgium’s academy system, Delcroix brings top-flight experience (Anderlecht, Burnley, now Lugano) to a back line that desperately needs it. His partnership with Ricardo Ade (LDU Quito) at center-back is Haiti’s most credible defensive pairing in decades.

Notable omissions

Fafà Picault — The veteran MLS winger (35, Vancouver Whitecaps) was not selected. Migné prioritized younger wide options in Etienne Jr. and Casimir.

Zachary Herivaux — The New England-born midfielder (Birmingham Legion) who played in Haiti’s 2023 Gold Cup campaign was a late cut from the provisional squad.

Bryan Labissiere — The young forward was in the preliminary squad but did not make the final 26 as Migné opted for the experienced trio of Nazon, Pierrot, and Isidor.

Tactical outlook

Migné deploys an attacking 4-3-3, the most ambitious tactical approach among CONCACAF’s minnows. Unlike the low-block systems of Iraq or Uzbekistan, Haiti wants to play: Bellegarde as the creative hub in midfield, Jean Jacques as the ball-winner, and the wide forwards — Etienne Jr. and Louicius — providing pace and directness. Nazon leads the line with Pierrot as his primary alternative.

The risks of this approach against Brazil are existential. An open 4-3-3 against Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo (if fit), and Endrick could produce a historically lopsided scoreline. But Migné’s calculation is honest: Haiti will not beat Brazil by defending deep for 90 minutes either. The Scotland opener is the target match — two teams returning to the World Cup after decades away, both viewing the other as the group’s winnable fixture. Haiti’s athleticism and Bellegarde’s Premier League quality give them a puncher’s chance against Scotland and Morocco.

The 1974 team scored twice. This team’s minimum ambition should be to match that and take a point. If they beat Scotland — and Scotland’s squad is Championship-level beyond Robertson and McTominay — Haiti could finish third in the group, which would be the greatest achievement in the nation’s football history.

Group C outlook

Haiti’s path: Scotland is the must-win — a match where Haiti’s athletic advantage and Bellegarde’s quality in midfield give them a genuine chance. Brazil is likely the group’s dominant force. Morocco could be a dead rubber or a knockout play-in depending on results. 0-3 points is the realistic range, with a point or three from Scotland the stretch target.

Fan planning links

• World Cup 2026 Squad Tracker — All 48 Teams
• Vancouver Matchday Guide — BC Place
• Los Angeles Matchday Guide — SoFi Stadium
• NYNJ Matchday Guide — MetLife Stadium

Sources checked

• Haitian Football Federation (FHF) — official 26-man squad announcement, May 24, 2026
• HaitiLibre, Fox Sports, OneFootball — confirmed squad reporting
• CONCACAF — World Cup qualifying statistics
• transfermarkt — player club, age, caps data as of May 2026