Concacaf Nations League, League A, Group A, Matchday 4. Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, San José, Sunday, October 4, 2026

SAN JOSÉ — Haiti’s unbeaten start to the 2026-27 Concacaf Nations League ended in Costa Rica. Carlos Mora and Andrey Soto scored in the opening 21 minutes, and Costa Rica led 2-0 at halftime. Haiti found no answer, and the match finished 2-0 to the hosts.

The context

Haiti arrived on nine points from three wins. One week earlier in Kingston, they had beaten Costa Rica 2-0 behind a Jean-Ricner Bellegarde strike and a Francisco Calvo own goal. Costa Rica’s situation was very different. They had already been eliminated from quarterfinal contention, and interim coach Bryan Ruiz’s side was playing to avoid relegation to League B. The kickoff was set for 6 p.m. local time in a stadium expected to be almost full. The hosts played with the urgency of a team with a point to prove, and Haiti did not match it at the start.

How it unfolded

6′ – Costa Rica 1-0. The opener came from a Rónald Matarrita corner, which Carlos Mora converted. Haiti conceded from the first real set piece of the night, a recurring worry for any side defending against a delivery as good as Matarrita’s.

21′ – Costa Rica 2-0. Soto added a left-footed finish across goal after a switch of play from Yerlan Sosa and another cross from Matarrita. Matarrita was involved in both goals, and Haiti’s right side struggled to contain him.

Costa Rica could have extended the lead before the break. Orlando Sinclair came very close to a third. Haiti’s frustration showed in the discipline column, with yellow cards for Lacroix in the 32nd minute and Carl Sainte in the 43rd. Neither side scored after the interval.

Rotation under the microscope

One detail stands out in the match-day squad list. According to La Nación’s listing, Bellegarde, Garven Metusala, Yassin Fortuné, and goalkeeper Alexandre Pierre were among Haiti’s substitutes. Bellegarde scored against these opponents a week earlier. If that was a rotation decision, it will invite debate among supporters, though the coaching staff will have weighed Haiti’s schedule and the demands of the window. It is also worth noting how many fresh faces the lineup contained.

What it means for the table

The defeat costs Haiti a perfect group campaign but not necessarily the bigger prize. Haiti finishes its four group matches on nine points with a +4 goal difference, three wins and one loss. The top two teams in the group advance to the November quarterfinals, and the teams finishing fifth and sixth are relegated. Curaçao had been ahead of Haiti in the group with 10 points. Haiti was second at full time, ahead of Costa Rica on goal difference and points, though the Dominican Republic, on six points with a match in hand against Nicaragua, can still move. Overtaking Haiti on goal difference would require a win by several goals. We’ll confirm the final standings once that game is complete.

Takeaways

• Start with intensity. Both goals came in the first 21 minutes, and Haiti spent the rest of the night chasing.
• Defend set pieces. The opener came directly from a corner, and Matarrita’s delivery created problems all night.
• Keep the bigger picture. Haiti still has a strong campaign, a winning run before this match, and a quarterfinal place within reach.

Haiti’s next test, if the table holds, will come in the November quarterfinals, likely against one of the confederation’s heavyweights.

An early goal from Louicius Deedson, a second-half double from Wilson Isidor and a late strike from Yassin Fortuné gave the Grenadiers a convincing victory.

Haiti defeated the Dominican Republic 4–1 on Thursday, October 1, in Concacaf Nations League, League A, Group A. In a matchup that carries extra meaning for supporters on both sides of the island, the Grenadiers delivered their answer through four goals and a decisive second-half response.

Wilson Isidor led the scoring with two goals, while Louicius Deedson opened the scoring and Yassin Fortuné completed Haiti’s tally. Dorny Romero scored the Dominican Republic’s only goal.

Deedson put Haiti ahead in the ninth minute. His early breakthrough gave the Grenadiers a lead they would never surrender. With no further goals recorded before the interval, Haiti went into halftime ahead 1–0.

The match’s scoring accelerated after the break. Isidor struck in the 51st minute to double Haiti’s advantage, giving the visitors a 2–0 lead and putting the Dominican Republic under greater pressure to respond.

That response arrived just four minutes later. Romero scored in the 55th minute, reducing the deficit to 2–1. Suddenly, a match that had been moving toward a comfortable Haitian victory was back within one goal.

For Haiti, that was the crucial test. A narrow lead offered the Dominican Republic a route back into the contest. The next goal would either restore Haiti’s two-goal cushion or bring the teams level.

Isidor supplied the answer in the 67th minute. His second goal made it 3–1, undoing the immediate damage from Romero’s strike and giving the Grenadiers breathing room again. On the goal timeline, this was the decisive turning point: Haiti responded to conceding by extending its lead.

Fortuné then added the fourth in the 76th minute. His goal took the score to 4–1, leaving the Dominican Republic with a three-goal deficit entering the closing stretch. Haiti had scored three times in 25 second-half minutes.

Isidor’s double made him the standout contributor to the scoreline. But the victory also featured three different Haitian scorers, with Deedson establishing the advantage and Fortuné putting the result beyond reasonable reach.

The most encouraging feature of the result was Haiti’s response at 2–1. Rather than allowing the Dominican goal to define the remainder of the match, the Grenadiers scored twice more. That sequence turned a potentially tense finish into a clear victory.

For Haitian supporters, the rivalry adds emotion to the celebration. The sporting achievement is clear on its own: four goals, a lead held from the ninth minute and three points earned in League A. The challenge now is to carry that effectiveness into the next match.

Minute	Scorer	Score: Dominican Republic–Haiti
9′	Louicius Deedson — Haiti	0–1
51′	Wilson Isidor — Haiti	0–2
55′	Dorny Romero — Dominican Republic	1–2
67′	Wilson Isidor — Haiti	1–3
76′	Yassin Fortuné — Haiti	1–4

SANTO DOMINGO, Sept. 30, 2026 | Haiti and the Dominican Republic meet tomorrow night in a Concacaf Nations League A match that is tight on the table and loaded with politics off the pitch. The game is at Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez, and kickoff is listed for 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, Oct. 1. In some time zones, including the UK, it falls early on Oct. 2. Check Concacaf’s match page for the final local time.

What’s at stake tomorrow

Both sides have won their first two games and sit level on six points in the group. Haiti, now coached by Spaniard David Badía, who took charge after the 2026 World Cup and has no previous experience coaching a national team, beat Trinidad and Tobago and then won 2-0 against Costa Rica. Badía replaced Sébastien Migné, whose contract the federation ended in July, weeks after he led Haiti to the World Cup for the first time in 52 years. The Grenadiers come in fresh from that historic return to the tournament.

The Dominican Republic has been winning at home and away: a 3-2 home win over Nicaragua on Sept. 25 and a 2-1 win away at Trinidad and Tobago on Sept. 28. Mariano Díaz has scored twice for the hosts. One preview calls the game a 1-1 draw, noting that the Dominicans are unbeaten in their last 15 home internationals. Another tips a Haitian win. Lineups and injury news will be confirmed closer to kickoff.

The history is lopsided in Haiti’s favor. The record in this rivalry is an 8-0 Haitian win in Santo Domingo in 1967. But the Dominican Republic, ranked 144th by FIFA, is now a first-time League A participant and has closed the gap in recent years.

Border policy: a hard line, with a trade component

Football is played in a tense political setting. The Dominican Republic has built much of its Haiti policy around border control:

• The wall. Construction of a border wall began under President Luis Abinader. About 54 km had been completed by April 2025, with another 13 km ordered.
• Deportations. Abinader has pledged to round up 10,000 Haitians every week, and humanitarian groups have urged a halt. About 200,000 have been deported to Haiti.
• Closures. The country last fully closed the border in 2021 after Jovenel Moïse’s assassination and again in 2023 during a dispute over a canal on a shared river.
• The “economic wall.” In February 2026, Abinader announced a network of dry ports along the border, a private investment of more than $300 million under a free trade zone regime, which he said would revive border provinces, formalize trade with Haiti and end smuggling networks.

Haitian and Dominican officials say they want cooperation on security. Critics in Haiti and among human rights advocates say the enforcement has been heavy-handed toward ordinary migrants. Fans traveling for the match should check the latest entry requirements.

The Dominican entry-ban list

The Dominican Republic has also restricted entry for a long list of Haitians. These are not financial sanctions like those from the U.S., Canada or the UN. They are presidential entry bans. In April 2023, President Abinader sent the director general of immigration a list of 39 Haitians from political sectors, finance and gangs, with instructions not to admit them. That brought the total to 52 after a first list in September 2022 that named former Prime Minister Claude Joseph and 12 gang leaders.

Names below follow published reporting, and spellings vary. An entry ban is an administrative decision, not a conviction, and several people named deny wrongdoing. Claude Joseph, for one, called his inclusion a scandalous decision and said he was not under investigation for any crime in Haiti.

Former politicians, ministers and officials

• Claude Joseph (former prime minister and acting president)
• Youri Latortue (former senator)
• Gracia Delva (former senator)
• Liszt Quitel (former acting minister of justice)
• Bredy Charlot (minister of agriculture at the time of the list)
• Kesner Normil (acting mayor of Pétion-Ville at the time)
• Evans Paul (former prime minister)
• Jean Tholbert Alexis (former ambassador to the DR and former president of the Chamber of Deputies)
• Victor Prophane (former deputy)
• Laurent Salvador Lamothe (former prime minister)
• Richard Lenine Hervé Fourcand (former senator)
• Rony Célestin (senator at the time, later described as former)
• Gary Bodeau (former deputy and former president of the lower house)
• Arnel Bélizaire (former deputy)
• Nénel Cassy (former senator)
• Berto Dorcé (former minister of justice)
• Antonio Chéramy, alias “Don Kato” (former senator)
• Romel Bell (former director general of customs)

Business elites, financial and legal figures

• Rodolphe Jaar (Haitian-Chilean businessman)
• Charles Saint-Rémy, alias “Kiko” (businessman and brother-in-law of former President Michel Martelly)
• Sherif Abdallah (businessman)
• Reynold Deeb (businessman)
• Salim Succar (lawyer)
• Steve Khawly (agribusiness entrepreneur)
• Dieuné Day (no description given in the source)

Prominent gang leaders and security threats

• Jimmy Chérizier, alias “Barbecue” (G9)
• Vitel’homme Innocent, alias “Vitelom” (Kraze Baryè/Torcelle)
• Destina Renel, alias “Ti Lapli” (Grand Ravine)
• Wilson Joseph, alias “Lanmo San Jou” (400 Mawozo)
• Claudy Célestin, alias “Chen Mechan”
• Alexandre Ezekiel, alias “Ze” (Baz Pilat)
• Kempes Sanon (Baz Bel-Air)
• Chéry Christ-Roi, alias “Chris-La”
• Félix Monel, alias “Mikano” (Wharf Jérémie)
• Jean Pierre Gabriel, alias “Ti Gabriel” (G-Pèp)
• Alexis Serge Renel, alias “Ti Junior” (Baz Delmas)
• Orlichen Emile, alias “Pè Lebren” (Baz Delmas)
• Johnson André, alias “Izo” (5 Segonn)
• Emanuel Salomon, alias “Mano”
• Joselito Petit-Homme, alias “Ti Makak”
• Carlo Petit-Homme, alias “Ti Makak”
• Luckson Elan (Gran Grif)
• Jermaine Stephenson, alias “Gaspiyay” (400 Mawozo)
• Albert Steeven, alias “Djouma” (Simon Pelé, Cité Soleil; spelled “Stevenson” and “Djourna” in the source)
• Julmé Ernst, alias “Jeneral Ti Greg” (former police officer)
• Woodly Ethéart, alias “Sonson La Familia”
• Wakin Pierre (police inspector arrested over ammunition trafficking)

Civil society, activists and clergy (also on the list, and the most debated inclusions)

• Espérance Pierre (RNDDH human rights network)
• Assad Volcy (activist and journalist)
• Father Frantz Cole (former Episcopal Church executive secretary)
• Father Jean Mardoché Vil (former Episcopal Church president)
• Fritz Désiré (school director and former Episcopal Church committee president)

What it means

Many names on the list overlap with those sanctioned by Canada and the United States, but the Dominican measure works differently: it blocks entry, and it came with limited public detail on the reasoning behind individual inclusions. The inclusion of a human rights defender, a journalist and a former prime minister has drawn criticism as politically motivated, while supporters say the measure is a narrow security tool against people linked to gangs and corruption.

On Thursday night, most attention will turn to the football. But the match comes at a moment when two neighbors are negotiating trade, security and migration, and the outcome of those talks will matter for many more people than the result in Santo Domingo.

Haiti Politic will follow the match and the border story.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Sept. 27, 2026 — Haiti beat Costa Rica 2-0 in the CONCACAF Nations League at Sabina Park in Kingston on Sunday. The result puts the Grenadiers provisionally top of Group A with six points, after a second straight win.

First-Half Control

Haiti led inside ten minutes and had the tie settled before the break. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde put them ahead in the ninth minute with a shot from outside the box, placed tight to the left post. The Wolverhampton midfielder’s strike set the tone, and Haiti, coached by David Badia, pressed Costa Rica’s half from the opening whistle.

The second goal came in the 39th minute. It went down as an own goal by Francisco Calvo, after an action involving Fafà Picault. That made it 2-0 at halftime, and Costa Rica never recovered from it.

Costa Rica Find No Way Back

Costa Rica tried to press throughout but lacked cutting edge. Manager Fernando Batista made changes after the break, and his side looked more organized and held more of the ball, but could not score. Gerson Torres, Douglas López and Doryan Rodríguez all came on as Costa Rica chased a goal that never arrived.

Calvo, the Costa Rica captain, told the Concacaf broadcast his side lost the game through its own first-half lapses.

The Bigger Picture

• Haiti’s form: The win comes after a 3-2 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in the opening round.
• Costa Rica’s crisis: Costa Rica has now lost twice in a row in the group and conceded six goals in two games, following a 4-3 defeat to Curaçao after leading 3-0 at half-time. Batista is winless in 2026, with five defeats and a draw, and his job is in doubt according to local media.
• The head-to-head: Costa Rica has now gone six consecutive meetings without beating Haiti, a run that includes the 1-0 Haitian win in November 2025 that was decisive in World Cup qualifying.
• Home away from home: Haiti again played as the home side in Jamaica because of the security situation in Haiti.

What’s Next

The Grenadiers face the Dominican Republic on October 1, then meet Costa Rica again on October 4 at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in San José. A result there would put Haiti in a strong position to reach the quarterfinals.

Garven Metusala equalized in stoppage time before Wilson Isidor struck at the death as Haiti turned a 2–1 deficit into a dramatic opening victory at Sabina Park.

Haiti Football Hub — Match Report | September 24, 2026

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Haiti could hardly have scripted a more dramatic beginning to its 2026–27 Concacaf Nations League campaign.

The Grenadiers defeated Trinidad and Tobago 3–2 at Sabina Park on Thursday night, scoring twice deep into stoppage time to transform what appeared destined to be an opening defeat into a memorable victory.

The result also gave new head coach David Badía a victory in his first official match in charge of Haiti. The fixture was Haiti’s first competitive appearance since the 2026 FIFA World Cup and marked the country’s return to League A after earning promotion from League B.

Picault Gives Haiti the Early Advantage

Haiti started aggressively and was rewarded in the 23rd minute.

Fafà Picault connected with a header inside the penalty area, with Wilson Isidor providing the assist, to give Haiti a 1–0 advantage.

The lead lasted only eight minutes.

Trinidad and Tobago responded in the 31st minute, when Wayne Frederick converted following a set-piece sequence to make it 1–1.

The teams entered halftime level.

Levi García Turns the Match Around

Trinidad and Tobago then stunned Haiti shortly before the hour mark.

Captain Levi García struck in the 59th minute, firing a powerful left-footed effort from outside the penalty area to put the Soca Warriors ahead 2–1.

Suddenly, Badía’s first match appeared to be heading toward defeat.

Haiti pushed forward looking for an equalizer. Hannes Delcroix threatened with a header, while Isidor came agonizingly close in the 79th minute when his attempt struck the crossbar.

As the match moved into its final minutes, Trinidad and Tobago still held the advantage.

Then everything changed.

Metusala Saves Haiti in Stoppage Time

In the 91st minute, defender Garven Metusala emerged inside the penalty area following a corner and finished from close range.

2–2.

What looked like a defeat had suddenly become a point.

But Haiti wasn’t finished.

The Grenadiers continued attacking rather than settling for the draw.

And seven minutes later came the decisive moment.

Wilson Isidor Wins It at the Death

Deep into stoppage time, Wilson Isidor found space close to goal and headed the ball into the net.

Haiti 3. Trinidad and Tobago 2.

The comeback was complete.

Isidor’s 98th-minute winner capped a remarkable final stretch in which Haiti scored twice after the 90th minute.

For Isidor, it was also another important contribution after entering this new Haitian cycle as one of Badía’s principal attacking options.

A Winning Start for David Badía

Beyond the three points, the match provided an early glimpse of what Haiti may look like under its new Spanish coach.

The performance was far from perfect.

Haiti surrendered its initial lead and allowed Trinidad and Tobago to turn a 1–0 deficit into a 2–1 advantage. Those defensive moments will give Badía plenty to analyze.

But Haiti also demonstrated something equally significant: the team refused to stop attacking when the match appeared lost.

Badía used his bench late, including introducing Frantzdy Pierrot in the 84th minute as Haiti increased its attacking presence. The pressure ultimately produced Metusala’s equalizer and Isidor’s winner.

It was an especially meaningful result because Haiti entered this edition after dominating League B in 2024–25 to earn promotion back to the top division. Concacaf confirmed that Haiti had clinched first place in its League B group and promotion to League A during that campaign.

Now the Grenadiers have converted that promotion into an opening League A victory.

Final Score

HAITI 🇭🇹 3–2 🇹🇹 TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Haiti: Fafà Picault 23′, Garven Metusala 91′, Wilson Isidor 98′
Trinidad & Tobago: Wayne Frederick 31′, Levi García 59′

Venue: Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica
Competition: 2026–27 Concacaf Nations League — League A, Group A, Matchday 1. Concacaf’s official schedule designated Sabina Park as the venue for the opener.

Next: Costa Rica

There will not be much time for celebration.

Haiti’s next Nations League match is scheduled against Costa Rica on September 27, again at Sabina Park, before the Grenadiers travel to Santo Domingo to face the Dominican Republic and later meet Costa Rica in San José.

The Trinidad match showed both sides of this Haitian team: defensive vulnerabilities that can be punished at League A level, but also attacking talent and an ability to keep fighting when the situation turns against them.

For Badía, however, the first line in his competitive record with Haiti is the one that matters tonight:

One match. One victory. Three points.

And for the Grenadiers, the 2026–27 Nations League begins with a comeback that few watching the final minutes at Sabina Park will soon forget.

Haiti’s new head coach, Spaniard David Badía, released his first-ever call-up list on Thursday since taking charge of the national team. The announcement was highly anticipated, coming just a week before the Grenadiers kick off their 2026-2027 Concacaf Nations League campaign.

Badía arrived in Haiti in early September after signing a two-year contract with the Haitian Football Federation (FHF), succeeding Sébastien Migné, who departed a few weeks after Haiti’s historic qualification for the 2026 World Cup. The coach from Gavà, who came through Barcelona’s La Masia academy and worked on the benches of Fenerbahçe and Almería, is taking charge of a national team for the first time in his career with this squad.

A group balancing continuity and fresh faces

For his first squad announcement as national team boss, Badía called up a mix of established regulars, notable returnees, and one standout first-time selection.

Among the players named are familiar faces from recent seasons, including Frantzdy Pierrot (AEK Athens), Woodensky Pierre (Forge FC) and Ruben Providence (Bodrumspor), all three expected to provide continuity in midfield and up front.

The coach also chose to recall several well-known names who had been absent from recent squads. That’s the case for Dany Jean (SC União Torreense), Fabrice “Fafà” Picault (Atlanta FC) and goalkeeper Jonah Mednard (Wake Forest University) — three players whose experience could prove valuable for a group still finding its footing under a new coaching staff.

Kenny Quetant, the big first

The call-up drawing the most attention, however, is that of Kenny Quetant. The Werder Bremen striker, playing in the Bundesliga, earns his first-ever call-up to the Grenadiers — a significant milestone in the young player’s career, given that he plays in one of Europe’s most competitive leagues. His inclusion reflects Badía’s intention to widen the pool of dual-national players based abroad.

A full, wide-ranging squad

The complete list includes three goalkeepers (Alexandre Pierre, Josué Duverger, Jonah Mednard), seven defenders (Carlens Arcus, Duke Lacroix, Martin Experience, Jean-Kévin Duverne, Hannes Delcroix, François Dulysse, Garven-Michée Metusala), five midfielders (Carl-Fred Sainthé, Jean-Jacques Danley, Jeanricner Bellegarde, Woodensky Pierre, Dominique Simon) and nine forwards (Louicius Deedson, Ruben Providence, Josué Casimir, Fafà Picault, Wilson Isidor, Kenny Quetant, Frantzdy Pierrot, Yassin Fortune, Dany Jean).

Notably, the squad spans a wide range of leagues, with players plying their trade in France, Germany, England, Turkey, Greece, Switzerland, Russia and the United States — a reflection of the growing talent pool now available to the national team.

Three matches in ten days

This first squad list falls within the late-September to early-October international window, during which Haiti will play three official matches in Group A of League A of the Concacaf Nations League. The Grenadiers will face Trinidad and Tobago on September 24, before taking on Costa Rica three days later — both matches to be played at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica. The team will then travel to Santo Domingo to face the Dominican Republic on October 1.

These three matches will serve as David Badía’s first real tests at the helm of an ambitious squad, now looking ahead to the 2027 Gold Cup and the next World Cup 2030 qualifying cycle.

On Monday, September 7, 2026, Ricardo Adé stepped in front of a camera, phone in hand, and told the Haitian people what many had quietly feared was coming: after a decade wearing the red and blue of the national team, he was walking away from Les Grenadiers.

The 36-year-old center-back, born in Saint-Marc, delivered the news in a video posted to his social media, thanking supporters for their loyalty throughout his international career. He told fans he had worn the jersey with great pride, and made clear he was leaving with no regrets — a sentiment underscored by the gratitude he expressed directly to the Haitian people for standing behind him throughout his journey with the national team.

From a Scam in Thailand to a Nation’s World Cup Dream

Adé’s path to this moment was never a straight line. Early in his career, he was the victim of a scam in Thailand that left him in a vulnerable, unstable position, forcing him to rebuild essentially from scratch. He restructured his career through stints in the United States, Chile, and Ecuador, eventually finding the stability and consistent playing time that would define the second half of his career.

That rebuild paid off. In 2023, Adé made history as the first Haitian footballer to win a CONMEBOL international title, lifting the Copa Sudamericana with LDU Quito — a landmark achievement for both club and country. He backed it up with domestic silverware in Ecuador and became, by the account of local press, one of the most respected defenders in CONCACAF.

But nothing will define Adé’s international career quite like 2026. As captain and a key figure in defense, he played a central role in Haiti’s qualification for the World Cup — the country’s first appearance in the tournament in 52 years. Adé was among Haiti’s 26 named players for the tournament, entering it with 61 caps and two goals for the national team, and featured in a group stage against Scotland, Brazil, and Morocco.

Closing the Chapter, With Faith in What Comes Next

In his farewell message, Adé said he believes in the next generation of players and trusts them to carry the national team forward. It’s a fitting note to end on for a player whose own career was itself a case study in perseverance — a man who lost nearly everything in Thailand and rebuilt himself into a World Cup captain and a continental champion.

His retirement follows that of goalkeeper Johny Placide, who stepped away from the national team about a month earlier, marking the quiet close of an era for a Haiti squad that will now lean on newer faces after its historic run.

Adé’s club career isn’t over — he remains under contract with LDU Quito through 2027 — but the national team jersey he wore since 2016 will now be worn by someone else. For a generation of Haitian fans, though, the image will stick: a captain, born in Saint-Marc, leading his country onto the world’s biggest stage for the first time in over half a century.

Mèsi, Ricardo. Ou pote drapo a byen wo. (Thank you, Ricardo. You carried the flag high.)

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Port-au-Prince — The Fédération Haïtienne de Football has ended its month-long search for a successor to Sébastien Migné, officially unveiling Spanish coach David Badía as the new head coach of Haiti’s men’s national team.

The federation made the announcement Friday on its official account, closing out a coaching search that had stretched over five weeks and, according to Haitian football insiders, drawn more than thirty applications from around the world. “1974 was a stage. 2026 was a passage. The dream is tomorrow,” the FHF wrote in Haitian Creole, framing the appointment as the next step in a journey that began with Haiti’s historic return to the World Cup this past summer — only the country’s second appearance in the tournament, 52 years after its 1974 debut. “To get there, we need a solid team, a proud people, and a coach with the ambition to go far. The FHF is proud to present our new Grenadiers coach: David Badía! Let’s get acquainted with the new captain of the ship.”

Who Is David Badía?

Badía Cequier, 50, is a Spanish coach and former center-back born in Gavà, near Barcelona. His playing career was modest, spent largely in Spain’s lower divisions and with Austria’s Sturm Graz before he transitioned into coaching. His managerial rise came primarily through the youth ranks and coaching staffs of major clubs: he spent four years coaching in FC Barcelona’s famed youth academy (2012–2016) before moving into senior coaching, first as an assistant — and briefly caretaker manager — at Turkey’s Antalyaspor, then as an assistant at Fenerbahçe and later at Spain’s UD Almería.

His first head-coaching opportunities came in Cyprus, where he took charge of Ethnikos Achna, AEK Larnaca, and Akritas Chlorakas in short spells between 2021 and 2022, before landing a more prominent post in March 2023 as head coach of Polish top-flight side Lechia Gdańsk. He returned to Ethnikos Achna for a second spell in 2024–2025 before now taking on his first national-team assignment with Haiti.

The Job He’s Inheriting

Badía takes over a program riding unusually high expectations for a country still working to stabilize its domestic football infrastructure amid an ongoing security crisis. Under Sébastien Migné, who took the reins in mid-2024, Haiti pulled off one of CONCACAF’s most improbable recent achievements: qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup without playing a single official “home” match on Haitian soil, after gang violence made the country’s main stadium too dangerous to host international fixtures — forcing the Grenadiers to play their home qualifiers in Curaçao instead. Haiti was eliminated in the group stage at the World Cup itself without picking up a point, but the run was still hailed domestically as a landmark achievement, and Migné departed by mutual agreement with the federation shortly afterward, with both sides describing the split as amicable.

That success has raised the bar considerably for whoever follows him. Haitian football media reported that the FHF’s shortlist at various points included names such as former Athletic Bilbao and Eibar coach Gaizka Garitano, Argentine Sebastián Beccacece, Uruguayan Pablo Correa, Frenchman Alexandre Lafitte, and Tunisian Sabri Lamouchi — underscoring how competitive and closely watched the search had become before the federation settled on Badía.

What Comes Next

Badía inherits a squad built substantially around Haiti’s European and North American diaspora, headlined by longtime captain and goalkeeper Johny Placide, defensive anchor Ricardo Adé, and attacking talents such as Duckens Nazon and Wilson Isidor, whose World Cup strike against Morocco was shortlisted by FIFA for Goal of the Tournament. His first major test will be steering the Grenadiers through their next competitive cycle — almost certainly including Gold Cup and World Cup qualifying assignments — while the FHF continues to grapple with the operational challenge of fielding a national team that still cannot safely play home matches inside Haiti itself.

The federation has not yet released details of Badía’s contract length or his coaching staff. Formal presentation of the new coach to the Haitian public and press is expected in the coming days.

This report is based on the Fédération Haïtienne de Football’s official announcement and publicly available career records for David Badía. Further details on his staff, contract terms, and first squad call-up were not yet available at time of writing.

PUEBLA, Mexico — Haiti’s remarkable run through the 2026 Concacaf U-20 Championship faces its sternest test yet on Tuesday, August 4, when Les Petits Grenadiers take on Costa Rica in the tournament’s Quarterfinals at 4:00 PM. The winner not only advances toward a shot at the trophy, but also books a place at the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan — making this one of the most consequential 90 minutes of the tournament so far for both programs.

How Each Team Got Here

Haiti’s path has been a rollercoaster, but an effective one. After opening the tournament with a chastening 3-0 defeat to the United States, Les Grenadiers responded with genuine character: a 3-2 win over Cuba built on a dominant first-half display (Miguel Joseph and Franco Celestin combining for two goals before the break), followed by a hard-fought 2-1 win over El Salvador to close out Group A in second place behind the Americans. Six points from three matches, with the ability to win from adversity — twice.

Costa Rica’s route has been quieter, but no less effective. Los Ticos opened Group B with a 1-0 win over Guatemala courtesy of Emmanuel Hernández, then suffered their only defeat of the group stage — a 2-0 loss to host nation Mexico that included a missed opportunity from Matías Cordero and an unfortunate own goal off defender Emmanuel Brenes. Costa Rica responded well, closing group play with a comfortable 4-1 victory over Antigua and Barbuda to also finish on six points and secure second place in Group B.

The teams arrive at this quarterfinal as near-mirror images on paper: identical records, identical points totals, and each having tasted both the high of a statement win and the sting of a defeat to a tournament heavyweight.

Key Players to Watch

For Haiti, the attacking partnership has carried the team through the group stage. Franco Celestin has been directly involved in goals across multiple matches, both scoring and creating, while Miguel Joseph has shown a knack for being in the right place — his rebound finish against Cuba and a spectacular late free kick in qualifying both speak to a player capable of producing moments under pressure. Forward Nikolai Pierre, who led Haiti’s qualifying campaign with four goals, adds another attacking outlet if Haiti’s coaching staff opts to freshen up the frontline. Goalkeeper Carlos Bre will also be central to Haiti’s hopes — his shot-stopping was tested repeatedly by the United States and Cuba, and a similarly composed performance will be essential against a Costa Rican side that scored four in its last outing.

For Costa Rica, Emmanuel Hernández has been the difference-maker in tight matches, scoring the only goal against Guatemala, while the team’s ability to bounce back from the Mexico defeat with a four-goal outburst against Antigua and Barbuda suggests real attacking depth once the Ticos get in rhythm.

Tactical Breakdown and Prediction

This is a genuinely close matchup, and the numbers back that up. Both sides are unbeaten against everyone except the tournament’s most dominant team in their respective groups (Haiti lost to the U.S., Costa Rica lost to Mexico), and both found a way to regroup and finish group play strongly. That head-to-head parity — same points, similar goal-scoring bursts, one bad night against elite opposition — points to a match that could hinge on fine margins: a set piece, a moment of individual quality, or which goalkeeper has the better night.

Where Haiti may hold a slight edge is in tournament momentum and mentality. Les Grenadiers have already shown twice in this competition that they can respond to adversity — first after the U.S. defeat, and again by grinding out a result against Cuba after conceding late. That resilience matters in knockout football, where the capacity to absorb a setback and keep composure often decides tight games. Costa Rica, by contrast, has yet to be truly tested from behind in a match that mattered as much as this one will.

Where Costa Rica may hold the edge is defensive platform and squad depth on the bench — Los Ticos’ ability to switch from a shutout defensive display against Guatemala to an attacking rout of Antigua and Barbuda suggests tactical flexibility that Haiti hasn’t yet had to fully display.

Prediction: This one is close enough to go either way, but Haiti’s pattern of responding to pressure — combined with the emotional weight of a program riding historic momentum after its senior team’s long-awaited World Cup return — gives Les Grenadiers a narrow edge. Expect a tight, cagey affair that could well go to extra time, with Haiti’s attacking partnership of Celestin and Joseph likely to be the difference if the Caribbean side finds the net first. A cautious lean toward Haiti advancing, potentially 2-1 or via penalties, but Costa Rica’s balance makes this anything but a lock — and a Ticos win would surprise nobody watching this tournament closely.

What’s at Stake

Beyond the immediate thrill of a Quarterfinal, the reward for the winner is enormous: a place in the Semifinals, a step closer to the Concacaf U-20 title, and — perhaps most significantly — direct qualification for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup. For Haiti, that would mean back-to-back years of history: the senior team’s return to the World Cup stage in 2026, followed by the U-20s reaching the global tournament for the first time in program history. It’s hard to overstate what a win here would mean for a soccer nation riding one of its best stretches in decades.

Kickoff is set for 4:00 PM ET on Tuesday, August 4, at Estadio Universitario BUAP in Puebla, Mexico.

PUEBLA, Mexico — Haiti kept its 2026 Concacaf U-20 Championship hopes firmly on track Tuesday night, holding off a furious late Cuba comeback to win 3-2 in a Group A thriller at Estadio Universitario BUAP. Les Grenadiers looked in total control for most of the match before a chaotic final ten minutes turned a comfortable lead into a nail-biter.

How It Unfolded

Haiti struck first in the 16th minute, and it came from persistence rather than a clean finish. Franco Celestin’s initial effort was parried away, but Miguel Joseph was there to pounce on the rebound, tucking it home from inside the box to put Haiti in front.

The lead grew midway through the first half when Celestin turned provider into scorer, converting from the penalty spot in the 34th minute to make it 2-0 and send Haiti into the break in firm control.

For long stretches after that, the match looked settled. But Cuba refused to fold. In the 80th minute, Yankarlos Iglesias pulled one back with a well-struck free kick, cutting the deficit to 2-1 and injecting late urgency into a match that had appeared decided.

Haiti had an answer, though. Deep into second-half stoppage time, in the 90+1′, Jacquet Da-Benz restored the two-goal cushion with a close-range finish, seemingly putting the result beyond doubt.

Cuba had other ideas. Just three minutes later, in the 90+4′, Robert Zerquera turned in a delivery from the left off an Iglesias assist to make it 3-2, setting up a frantic final push. Haiti’s defense held firm through the remaining seconds to close out the win.

Why It Matters

The victory is a big one for Haiti’s tournament prospects. After opening with a 3-0 loss to the United States, this result gets Les Grenadiers back on track in a group where every point matters for World Cup and Olympic qualification hopes. It also continues a strong individual tournament for Franco Celestin, who has now been involved in goals in back-to-back matches.

For Cuba, the late fightback offers a silver lining despite the loss — a reminder that this team can create danger even when chasing a game, but it wasn’t enough to overturn Haiti’s fast start.

What’s Next

Both teams are back in action Friday with the group finale on the line. Haiti closes out the group stage against El Salvador, while Cuba faces the United States — a match Haiti will be watching closely, since results elsewhere could directly shape where Les Grenadiers land in the final Group A standings.