Overview:
Sunderland’s star striker Wilson Isidor has been known as as much as symbolize Haiti for the primary time in his younger profession, marking an important second for Haitian soccer because the crew prepares for its historic 2026 World Cup look.
CAP-HAÏTIEN — After responding to long-standing calls from supporters urging him to hitch Les Grenadiers, English Premier League striker Wilson Isidor— a French native born to Haitian and Malagasy dad and mom— has chosen to symbolize Haiti. He confirmed his choice on social media because the nationwide crew prepares for the 2026 World Cup.
In a message addressed to followers and the Haitian group, Isidor defined that he had taken time to fastidiously think about the choice earlier than committing to the Haitian nationwide crew.
“I’m proud to be on the crew now and to have the ability to elevate up our individuals. Our nation,” Isidor posted on Instagram March 17. “I can’t wait to find the fervor of the diaspora and to fulfill you guys.”
The 25-year-old ahead, who made followers wait, is named up for the primary time for friendlies in opposition to Tunisia and Iceland later this month. He’s a key addition to the Haitian crew, already certified for the World Cup. Isidor joins Haiti simply three months earlier than the competitors, including extra vigor to a crew that’s on the rise.
His choice follows months of public assist from Haitian followers, particularly on social media, after the crew certified for the worldwide occasion, urging him to hitch Les Grenadiers because the crew constructed momentum throughout its qualifying run.
In a short clip, posted on Fb by the Federation Haïtienne de Soccer (FHF), he mentioned of his choice to hitch Les Grenadiers:
“You requested for me.
You consider in me.
You waited for me.
Right this moment, I come to let you know: right here, I’m.”
The decision-up of the 6’1″ ahead at the moment enjoying for the English Premier League crew Sunderland AFC marks a historic second for Haitian soccer. The crew desperately wants a dependable goalscorer. Les Grenadiers has in all probability by no means had a striker of Isidor’s expertise. He’s younger, quick and highly effective, with wonderful ball management, dribbling expertise and a knack for scoring. Regardless of a latest drop in kind, he stays one of many league’s most harmful forwards early this season, netting 4 objectives to date.
Now, he joins a rising group of Europe-based gamers serving to reshape Haiti’s squad, together with 27-year-old midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, who additionally performs within the English Premier League with Wolverhampton, and 24-year-old winger Josué Casimir of French Ligue 1’s AJ Auxerre — each of whom performed key roles in securing Haiti’s spot within the World Cup. Bellegarde and Casimir, who had been additionally born in France, had already made vital contributions to Haiti securing its World Cup spot between August and November 2025. With this trio, Haiti now has its most gifted crew on paper ever.
Born in Rennes, France, Isidor beforehand represented France on the youth degree, from U-17 to U-20, and was as soon as thought-about a possible possibility for the French nationwide crew.
He began his skilled profession in 2017 with Monaco earlier than discovering his footing with Russian membership Lokomotiv Moscow in 2022, the place he scored consecutively in his first six matches. After a interval affected by accidents, he regained momentum along with his switch to Sunderland in 2025. He scored a late game-winning header in opposition to Brentford on August 30 and added one other winner in opposition to Chelsea on October 25.
Head coach and Frenchman Sebastien Migné named 25 gamers for the 2 warm-up matches, with all however one—midfielder Woodensky Pierre of Violette Athletic Membership—from Haiti’s league. The opposite 24 are primarily diaspora gamers from European and North American leagues.
Except for Pierre, who earned his first senior crew call-up, Migné additionally chosen Delentz Pierre of USL Championship membership FC Tulsa for the primary time. Each are former Haiti U-20 gamers.
Les Grenadiers will face Tunisia on March 28 and Iceland on March 31 at BMO Discipline in Toronto, Canada, as a part of their preparations for the World Cup. Within the upcoming summer time international showcase, they’re positioned in Group C with Brazil, Morocco and Scotland.
“Collectively, we now have the possibility to make historical past and stay massive adventures,” Isidor mentioned.