WILLEMSTAD (CURAÇAO) — Haiti are going back to the World Cup. On a tense Tuesday night at Stadion Ergilio Hato, Les Grenadiers defeated Nicaragua 2–0 to finish top of Group C in Concacaf qualifying and book their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It will be Haiti’s first appearance on the global stage since 1974.

Louicius delivered the moment of release. The centre–forward, already a key figure throughout this campaign, found the net in the second half after a well–constructed move down the flank. His composed finish crowned a performance built on control, discipline and timely aggression from Haiti.

The math was simple but ruthless: Haiti needed to beat Nicaragua and either see Honduras fail to win against Costa Rica, or outstrip Honduras on goal difference if both teams took three points. As it unfolded, Costa Rica and Honduras battled to a scoreless draw in San José, while Haiti did their job in Willemstad. The combination of results lifts Les Grenadiers clear at the top and sends both Honduras and Costa Rica out of the race.

The significance stretches far beyond one scoreline. Haiti’s last men’s World Cup appearance came in West Germany 1974, when Emmanuel Sanon famously scored against Italy to end Dino Zoff’s record shutout streak. For more than five decades since, campaigns have often ended in heartbreak: strong qualifying starts that faded, decisive away days that slipped away, golden generations that fell just short.

From the opening whistle against Nicaragua, Haiti looked determined not to let this be another near–miss. Lining up in a compact mid–block, they denied direct access into the half–spaces, funneled play wide and sprang forward once the ball was recovered. The full–backs chose their moments to advance, while wingers attacked inside channels rather than settling for hopeful crosses.

In the first half, Haiti created the clearer chances. Combinations between the nine and the advanced midfielders produced cut–back situations around the penalty spot, and set pieces forced Nicaragua to defend deep inside their box. At the other end, Johny Placide managed the occasional long–range effort and high ball with authority, keeping stress to a minimum.

The breakthrough after the interval felt like the logical next step. Haiti recovered a second ball high, circulated quickly to the wing and drove the ball low into the area. Louicius arrived with perfect timing to sweep home, triggering an eruption on the pitch and in the stands. For a few seconds, fifty years of waiting compressed into one sound.

Once ahead, game management became the priority. Head coach Sébastien Migné tweaked the midfield roles to better protect the space behind the advancing full–backs and introduced fresh legs in wide areas to stretch Nicaragua in transition. Haiti slowed the tempo when needed, drew fouls in intelligent zones and defended set pieces with focus.

In the stands — and across the Haitian diaspora — the celebrations began to swell as news filtered through that Costa Rica and Honduras had finished 0–0. Songs, flags and phone screens lit up the night, from Willemstad to Port–au–Prince, from Montreal to Miami. For many supporters, this qualification represents not only a sporting achievement but also a moment of collective pride at a difficult time for the country.

Attention will soon turn to the World Cup draw, preparation camps and the logistical challenge of a tournament spanning Canada, Mexico and the United States. But tonight stands on its own. Haiti have navigated a brutal qualifying cycle without a true home match, leaned on structure and resilience, and found enough quality in the final third to cross the line. Fifty–plus years after Sanon’s goal shook the world, Les Grenadiers are back on football’s biggest stage.