Overview:
Two highly-rated star gamers, Josué Casimir from French Ligue 1’s AJ Auxerre and Hannes Delcroix from the English Premier League’s Burnley F.C., have dedicated to Haiti as Les Grenadiers compete for his or her second FIFA World Cup look in 52 years. Their arrival, together with midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, provides extra power and depth to an all-expats roster and will assist the Haitian males’s soccer staff topple Group C opponents to qualify instantly with 4 matches remaining between October and November.
CAP-HAÏTIEN — Haiti has added two extra gamers from the English Premier League and French Ligue 1, two of the highest 5 European leagues, to its all-diaspora roster because it competes for a spot in subsequent summer time’s FIFA World Cup. If Les Grenadiers beat their three Concacaf rivals in Group C of the ultimate spherical, they’ll return to the worldwide soccer stage for a historic second time after 5 many years
On Sept. 30, head coach Sébastien Migné introduced the call-ups of AJ Auxerre winger Josué Casimir and Burnley F.C. center-back Hannes Delcroix to his 24-man roster for October qualifiers— away in opposition to Nicaragua and Honduras, respectively.
“The brand new gamers’ arrival will strengthen our group,” Migné stated throughout a digital press convention. “If we need to carry out higher or qualify for the World Cup, we’d like extra competitors inside the staff.”
Les Grenadiers face Nicaragua on Oct. 9 and Honduras on Oct. 13 away in two of the 4 remaining matches of the Concacaf Group C last qualifying spherical.
Migné stated he had been “combating” for a 12 months and a half to herald Casimir and Delcroix. Their resolution comes weeks after Wolverhampton midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde additionally joined Haiti, marking the primary time the nationwide staff has three Europe-based top-flight gamers without delay.
It’s a milestone for a program that has lengthy relied on its diaspora expertise. With residence video games compelled overseas attributable to insecurity, Haiti’s nationwide staff hardly ever performs on residence soil, relying as an alternative on expatriates in Europe and North America to bolster the squad.
Haiti final certified for the World Cup in 1974. “All the boys need to go to the World Cup,” Migné stated. “However we have to present it, not simply say it.”
Participant Profiles
- Josué Casimir, 24: Born in Guadeloupe to Haitian mother and father, he performed for the French territory’s under-20s earlier than switching allegiance to Haiti. Casimir signed with Ligue 1 membership AJ Auxerre in June and has 5 appearances this season.
- Hannes Delcroix, 26: Born in Petite Rivière de l’Artibonite, Haiti, however raised in Belgium, which he represented on the youth degree. He additionally had one cap for the senior staff, enjoying in a pleasant in opposition to Switzerland on Nov. 11, 2020. Now with Burnley, Delcroix has struggled to safe enjoying time and is primarily enjoying with the under-21 aspect after getting back from a mortgage spell at Swansea City within the Championship League (English Second Division).
The left-sided defender first made the transfer to Burnley from Belgian outfit Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht in 2023, however has made simply 15 appearances for the Clarets since then. His final aggressive outing for the membership was in March 2024. Following an ankle harm, he was loaned to Swansea for the second half of the 2024–2025 season. There, he once more was restricted to creating simply 12 outings.
The 26-year-old isn’t a part of head coach Scott Parker’s first-team plans and wasn’t even included within the membership’s official 25-man squad checklist, which was just lately submitted to the Premier League after the summer time switch window closed. Consequently, the brand new Haitian defender can’t play in any Premier League matches till January on the earliest, when the switch window opens once more—both at Burnley or elsewhere if a transfer occurs.

Extra to Come
Migné hopes to influence Sunderland ahead Wilson Isidor—one other English Premier League participant eligible for France, Haiti and Madagascar—however stated the participant stays undecided. “The selection is a decisive step in his profession,” Migné stated.
“He’s tormented as a result of he’s a bi-national. He’s eligible for France and Haiti… The selection is just not easy.”
In the meantime, Haiti known as up Canadian-born striker Woobens Pacius, who scored 10 objectives this season in 26 appearances within the U.S. United Soccer League (USL) with Tampa Bay Rowdies. The 23-year-old striker was born in Quebec, Canada, to Haitian mother and father. He by no means represented Canada on the youth degree.
Along with Pacius, Migné additionally known as up 18-year-old goalkeeper Tony Algarin for the primary time, a Dominican Republic-born participant. Algarin has represented Haiti on the under-17 degree 4 occasions and performs for French membership Stade de Reims’ under-19 staff.
Les Grenadiers additionally welcomed again Toronto FC winger Derrick Etienne Jr., a longtime nationwide participant, after a 15-month absence. Migné defined that he had not known as Etienne as a result of he was “not glad with him on and off the sphere.”
“I believe he understands now,” Migné stated.
“He’s prepared to come back, even when he’s not going to begin video games. It was essential for me to speak to him as a result of I want constructive vitality on the staff proper now… In our final talks, Derrick confirmed me he has that motivation. And extra importantly, he’s enjoying extra and performing higher on the membership degree.”
Whereas the inflow of latest expertise excites followers, restricted preparation stays a problem. Migné stated the squad will solely have two one-hour coaching periods earlier than going through Nicaragua.
Nonetheless, the coach insists the imaginative and prescient is larger than logistics.
“Our staff is stronger once we embrace the diaspora,” he stated. “That is how Haiti can compete on the world stage.”