Overview:
Haiti dropped 5 locations to No. 88 in FIFA’s newest males’s world rankings following its 2026 World Cup marketing campaign. The rankings, launched at some point after Spain defeated Argentina within the World Cup ultimate, mirrored every nationwide group’s 5 most up-to-date match outcomes.
MIAMI — Haiti’s nationwide males’s group fell 5 locations to No. 88 in FIFA’s 211-nation rankings after its historic return to the FIFA World Cup. However followers and leaders of the group are unfazed, vowing Les Grenadiers will climb again up quickly sufficient.
“With the standard of its present gamers, Haiti is in a greater place than it has ever been,” a Haitian Soccer Federation insider, who requested anonymity for not being a certified spokesperson, instructed The Haitian Occasions through a WhatsApp message.
Haitian soccer fan Walter Jean-Jules, of Miami, stated the group’s rating decline was anticipated after it misplaced to Peru in a pleasant and to all three of its group-stage matches on the World Cup.
“It’s no shock,” Jean-Jules stated. “The one query was how far down we had been going to slip. I’m glad we’re nonetheless within the prime 90s.”
Launched at some point after Spain defeated reigning champion Argentina within the World Cup ultimate, the rankings had been calculated utilizing every nationwide group’s 5 most up-to-date worldwide match outcomes.
For Haiti, these matches included three World Cup defeats: a 1-0 loss to Scotland, a 3-0 defeat to Brazil, and a 4-2 loss to Morocco. FIFA’s rating formulation additionally factored in Haiti’s ultimate two pre-World Cup friendlies—a 4-0 win over New Zealand and a 2-1 defeat to Peru.
Though Haiti completed final in Group C with out incomes a degree, its performances had been towards opponents ranked effectively above it. That helped Les Grenadiers keep away from dropping too far and keep its top-10 position within the CONCACAF area, a profit for group seeding as Haiti prepares to enter the Nations League as a regional elite group in League A.
World Cup expertise comes at a value
The present place is Haiti’s lowest rating since now-former head coach Sébastien Migné took over in March 2024. Earlier than the World Cup, Haiti had climbed steadily within the FIFA rankings after an unbeaten run within the CONCACAF Nations League and securing its first look at soccer’s largest event in 52 years.
“Haiti has a powerful group that may get again to profitable methods within the area when the Nations League kicks off in September,”
Samuel Colin Jean, Haitian Youth Soccer Coach
Les Grenadiers received their Nations League group, certified for the expanded 48-team World Cup and arrived within the event with a roster composed nearly fully of gamers developed within the Haitian diaspora. The World Cup, nonetheless, uncovered the hole that also separates Haiti from the world’s elite powers. Defensive lapses proved pricey towards Scotland and Brazil, whereas Morocco capitalized on restricted alternatives regardless of Haiti’s improved attacking show.
FIFA’s rating system rewards groups for outcomes towards stronger opponents whereas inserting larger weight on aggressive matches than friendlies. For Haiti, this implies the World Cup losses outweighed the positive aspects made throughout qualifying.
Hopes excessive for Haiti to climb again
Nonetheless, many Haitian soccer observers argue the rating tells solely a part of the story. It doesn’t replicate the group’s true worth and strengths, they are saying.
Samuel Colin Jean, a youth coach in Haiti for over 10 years, believes the nationwide group will climb proper again and even to a greater place quickly.
“Haiti has a powerful group that may get again to profitable methods within the area when the Nations League kicks off in September,” Jean stated. “I’ve little doubt this group, which is now ranked in CONCACAF’s eighth place, might be within the area’s prime 5 earlier than the 2027 Gold Cup.”
Regardless of ending with no level, Haiti demonstrated it may compete for stretches towards among the world’s strongest groups. Gamers earned reward for his or her resilience, notably within the match towards Morocco, whereas supporters celebrated the nation’s return to the World Cup after a half-century absence.
The event additionally rekindled nationwide and Haitian diaspora curiosity in soccer. On the stadiums and on-line, Haitians and non-Haitians alike cheered for Les Grenadiers. After the group’s marketing campaign, hundreds of supporters welcomed returning gamers throughout homecoming celebrations in Cap-Haïtien, Bas-Limbé, Port-au-Prince, Les Cayes, Camp-Perrin, Jacmel and different communities.
Trying forward, Haiti’s subsequent goal might be reversing the slide within the rankings as preparations start for the subsequent cycle of regional competitions and 2030 World Cup qualification. With a brand new head coach anticipated to be appointed quickly, the federation hopes the expertise gained on the world’s largest stage will present a basis for sustained progress quite than a one-time achievement.