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Haiti national football team
|
Haiti
 |
| Nickname(s) |
Les Grenadiers |
| Association |
Fédération Haïtienne de Football |
| Confederation |
CONCACAF (North America) |
| Head coach |
 Wagneau Eloi |
| Top scorer |
Golman Pierre (23) |
| Home stadium |
Stade Sylvio Cator |
| FIFA code |
HAI |
| FIFA ranking |
123 |
| Highest FIFA ranking |
66 (November 2007) |
| Lowest FIFA ranking |
155 (April 1996) |
| Elo ranking |
83 |
|
|
|
| First international |
Haiti 1 - 2 Jamaica 
(Haiti; March 22, 1925) |
| Biggest win |
Haiti 12 - 1 USVI 
(Port-au-Prince, Haiti; April 10, 2001)
Haiti 11 - 0 USVI
(Kingston, Jamaica; November 24, 2004) |
| Biggest defeat |
 Mexico 8 - 0 Haiti
(Mexico City, Mexico; July 19, 1953)
 Brazil 9 - 1 Haiti
(Chicago, USA; August 30, 1959)
 Costa Rica 8 - 0 Haiti
(San José, Costa Rica; March 19, 1961) |
| World Cup |
| Appearances |
1 (First in 1974) |
| Best result |
Round 1, 1974 |
| CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| Appearances |
3 (First in 2000) |
| Best result |
Quarterfinals, 2002 |
The Haiti national football team is the national team of Haiti and is controlled by the Fédération Haïtienne de Football. They have made one appearance at the World Cup finals, in 1974, but were beaten convincingly in the opening qualifying stages by three of the pre-tournament favorites; Italy, Poland, and Argentina. Their most recent achievement was in 2007, when the national team won the 2007 Caribbean Cup.
History
Haiti has one of the longest football traditions in the Caribbean and was an early participant in World Cup qualifying. Throughout the 60s, and 70s, Haiti's footballing status in the region remained very strong, being considered the third strongest team in CONCACAF after Mexico and arguably Costa Rica. The Duvalier regime during the 70s ensured Haiti's qualification in regional and world competition through heavy political support as a method of improving the island's standing in sports. The strength of the national selection ultimately culminated in Haiti's first ever World Cup appearance in 1974, in which they surprised the world in their opening goal against a considerably stronger Italian team. The island nation has produced many talented star players over the years.
The Golden Age
The period from the mid-1960s to early 1980s could be considered a golden age for Haitian football. With Antoine Tessy as coach for much of this period, Haiti would emerge as one of the strongest teams in the CONCACAF zone, being pooled with other regionally strong football nations such as Mexico and arguably Costa Rica. By 1965, players like Henri Francillon, Philippe Vorbe and Guy St-Vil were already playing in the team and would be stalwarts of the side in the coming years.
The team developed sufficiently to reach the final round of qualifying for 1970, where they faced El Salvador. After losing the first leg at home, Haiti pulled off a 3-0 win away but the rules of the day dictated a play-off on neutral ground which El Salvador won to secure a place in the 1970 FIFA World Cup.
In the 1974 qualifiers, Haiti once again reached the final round in a qualifying tournament completely played at home. Haitian military rule of the time would make sure Haiti qualified at all costs. This time, with all odds on their favor, they would top the group and qualify for the 1974 World Cup. In West Germany, they would be drawn in an extremely tough group with Italy, Argentina and Poland. However, they surprised the football world in their debut game when star forward Emmanuel Sanon scored to give Haiti a lead over Italy, at the same time ending Dino Zoff's still standing record run of 1142 minutes without conceding a goal in international matches. They eventually lost 3-1, and would lose to Poland (7-0) and Argentina (4-1), but their brave display against Italy is forgotten by few.
Haiti would reach the final rounds of 1978 and 1982 qualifiers, but failed to make the cut. The years since have seen Haiti's footballing status decline markedly. In recent years, the political situation in the country has led to numerous defections from members of the soccer team. The team has rebuilt somewhat through the Haitian diaspora in Miami, Florida, and some Haitian home games have been played in Miami in recent years. Last time Haiti played in Miami was on August 28 2007 against Club Atlético Boca Juniors. Haiti as of recently has been rising once again as a footballing power in CONCACAF.
World Cup record
Gold Cup record
Current squad
The following players were called for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification against Netherlands Antilles on June 22, 2008.
| No. |
Pos. |
Player |
DoB (Age) |
Caps |
Goals |
Club |
| 1 |
GK |
Gabard Fénélon |
January 3, 1981 |
34 |
0 |
 Miami FC |
| 2 |
MF |
Sony Jean Alcénat |
January 23, 1986 |
19 |
3 |
Aigle Noir |
| 3 |
DF |
Frantz Gilles |
November 1, 1977 |
|
|
AS Cavaly |
| 4 |
MF |
Peter Germain |
January 22, 1982 |
|
|
Baltimore SC |
| 5 |
DF |
Jerome Mechak |
April 21, 1990 |
|
|
Baltimore SC |
| 6 |
DF |
Frantz Bertin |
May 30, 1983 |
4 |
0 |
 Benidorm CD |
| 7 |
MF |
Fucien Brunel |
August 26, 1984 |
20 |
6 |
Aigle Noir |
| 8 |
|
Lescinel Jean-Francois |
November 2, 1986 |
|
|
 En Avant Guingamp |
| 9 |
FW |
Éliphène Cadet |
August 10, 1980 |
32 |
12 |
FC Tempête |
| 10 |
MF |
Sony Norde |
July 27, 1989 |
|
|
 Boca Juniors |
| 11 |
FW |
Fabrice Noël |
July 21, 1985 |
|
|
 Puerto Rico Islanders |
| 13 |
DF |
Pierre Richard Bruny |
April 6, 1972 |
|
|
Don Bosco |
| 14 |
MF |
Mones Chery |
December 2, 1981 |
|
|
Racing Club |
| 16 |
DF |
Mackorel Sampeur |
February 20, 1986 |
|
|
Violette AC |
| 17 |
MF |
Alain Vubert |
November 25, 1985 |
16 |
0 |
Baltimore SC |
| 18 |
DF |
Judelin Aveska |
December 21, 1987 |
|
|
River Plate |
| 19 |
FW |
Leonel Saint-Preux |
February 12, 1985 |
|
|
Zénith |
| 21 |
GK |
Yves-Marie Clervin |
|
|
|
AS Capoise |
|
DF |
Windsor Noncent |
June 12, 1984 |
8 |
1 |
 Vác-Újbuda LTC |
|
DF |
Romain Genevois |
October 28, 1987 |
1 |
0 |
FC Gueugnon |
|
MF |
Dorcélus Jemps |
January 4, 1980 |
|
|
Victory SC |
|
FW |
Abel Thermeus |
January 19, 1983 |
3 |
0 |
Debreceni VSC |
|
FW |
Davidson Charles |
March 28, 1983 |
2 |
1 |
L'Entente SSG |
|
Recent call ups
The following players have been called up for the team in 2008.
| Name |
DOB |
Club |
Caps (goals) |
Most Recent Call up |
| Goalkeepers |
| Defenders |
| Raymond Ednerson |
May 14, 1985 |
Baltimore SC |
? (?) |
v Netherlands Antilles, June 15, 2008 |
| Pierre Mercier |
June 7, 1982 |
 Rotherham United F C |
3 (0) |
v Netherlands Antilles, June 15, 2008 |
| Lesly Fellinga |
September 29, 1985 |
 SC Heerenveen |
1 (0) |
v Netherlands Antilles, June 15, 2008 |
| Midfielders |
| Alexandre Boucicaut |
November 18, 1981 |
Violette AC |
? (?) |
v Netherlands Antilles, June 15, 2008 |
| Peterson Joseph |
April 24, 1990 |
Aigle Noir |
? (?) |
v Netherlands Antilles, June 15, 2008 |
| Strikers |
| Fritzson Jean-Baptiste |
January 4, 1986 |
Aigle Noir |
? (?) |
v Netherlands Antilles, June 15, 2008 |
Recent Call Ups
Goalkeepers
Defenders
Midfielders
Forwards
Selected famous players
Titles
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