Overview:
Haiti’s males’s under-20 soccer group opened its 2026 Concacaf Championship marketing campaign for FIFA World Cup qualification with a 7-0 win over Anguilla on Feb. 26 and a 4-0 trouncing of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines two days later in Curaçao.
CAP-HAÏTIEN — Haiti’s males’s under-20 soccer group has opened its 2026 Concacaf Championship, which serves as a qualifier for each the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics, with two commanding victories— defeating Anguilla 7-0 and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4-0 at Rignaal “Jean” Francisca Stadium in Willemstad, Curaçao.
Les Petits Grenadiers performed their first two video games on Feb. 26 and Feb. 28, respectively. Striker Nikolaï Pierre led the cost, scoring twice in every match — three headers and a long-range strike. The 17-year-old Orlando Metropolis academy ahead—a dependable scorer for Haiti on the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar—continues to bolster his status as one of many nation’s most promising younger attackers.
Standing 6-foot-3 as a middle ahead, Pierre combines measurement, positioning and composure in entrance of the aim. With senior nationwide group striker Frantzdy Pierrot now 30, observers have begun speculating concerning the subsequent technology of forwards. If developed patiently, Pierre might emerge as a future choice to succeed Pierrot.
“The child (#18) can play,” Cheriko Ragnarson commented on Facebook. “And he’s big. I hope a global membership indicators him early.
Proper-winger Franco Celestin additionally impressed. He tallied two objectives and an help towards Anguilla, then added two assists versus Saint Vincent. His opening aim within the first match — a solo run previous two defenders earlier than ending from a decent angle — highlighted his technical capacity.
A local of Croix-des-Bouquets, Celestin transferred in January from Mount Nice Academy to Montego Bay United in Jamaica’s Premier League.
One other standout participant for each Haiti U-17 and U-20 is left-winger Emerson Laissé, 16. He delivered energetic performances on the flank, repeatedly beating defenders regardless of not scoring. His shows, together with Celestin’s, prompted some followers on social media to name for his or her inclusion on the senior nationwide roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico.
Sports activities analysts, nonetheless, cautioned towards speeding the youngsters. They famous that robust showings towards youth-level competitors don’t all the time translate instantly to the senior worldwide stage and that cautious improvement stays key.
“Plenty of you need to see Emerson Laissé on the senior group,” sports activities analyst Caleb Jephte Pierre posted on Facebook. “He’s a participant with a variety of expertise, however we shouldn’t rush him. He nonetheless has quite a bit to be taught [on and off the field],” Pierre added.
“I feel we should always wait till after the World Cup. They need to take into account him when rebuilding the group.”
A number of Haiti-based gamers additionally made an affect. Clavens Exantus of Violette Athletic Membership scored in each matches. Will Amstrong Leconte of Baltimore SC, Kervens Romulus of Racing Membership Haïtien and Josué Anglade additionally discovered the online in the course of the two-game stretch.
Les Petits Grenadiers sit atop Group D with six factors, forward of host Curaçao on aim distinction. Solely the group winner advances to the subsequent spherical.
Haiti subsequent faces Guyana on March 2 at 7 p.m. ET, then closes the primary section towards Curaçao on March 4—additionally at 7 p.m. ET—at Rignaal “Jean” Francisca Stadium. The matches might be streamed stay on Concacaf’s YouTube channel.