Grenadier alaso! Out but not down - Haiti leaves the World Cup in style

Haiti entered their final Group C match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 25 already eliminated, having lost to Scotland and Brazil, but they produced one of the tournament's most electric opening halves against Morocco in Atlanta. 

After just 10 minutes, Jean-Kevin Duverne got to the byline and Lenny Joseph's flick deflected in off Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou — officially recorded as a Bounou own goal — to give Haiti a stunning lead. Morocco levelled through Achraf Hakimi on 39 minutes, but four minutes later Wilson Isidor, the Sunderland striker, received the ball outside the area and unleashed a thunderous strike that flew into the top corner, restoring Haiti's lead at 2-1 and sending Haitian communities from Atlanta to New York into delirium.

Ismael Saibari equalised again before half-time — his third goal in three World Cup appearances — and Morocco eventually pulled clear through Soufiane Rahimi's 78th-minute strike and a late Gessime Yassine finish to win 4-2. Haiti finished bottom of Group C without a point. 

Yet the result almost felt secondary. The two goals against Morocco were Haiti's first at a World Cup in 52 years — since their only previous appearance in 1974 — and Isidor's strike quickly became one of the most-shared moments of the tournament. Notably, Haiti achieved this at their first World Cup since 1974, having qualified despite being unable to play a home game for nearly five years due to the security situation in Port-au-Prince.

• Haiti's two goals against Morocco were their first World Cup goals in 52 years, since their only previous appearance in 1974 • Wilson Isidor's long-range strike restored Haiti's lead at 2-1 in the 43rd minute • Haiti's first goal was officially a Yassine Bounou own goal, following a Lenny Joseph flick from a Jean-Kevin Duverne cross • Achraf Hakimi (39 mins) and Ismael Saibari equalised for Morocco before half-time • Soufiane Rahimi (78 mins) and Gessime Yassine completed the 4-2 scoreline for Morocco • Haiti had already been eliminated after defeats to Scotland and Brazil • Haiti qualified for the 2026 World Cup despite not playing a home game for nearly five years • Morocco finished second in Group C behind Brazil on goal difference, both on seven points

Haiti's 2026 World Cup campaign — three defeats, two memorable goals and a global audience witnessing a nation's resilience — carries significance well beyond the scoreline. Their goals against Morocco were their first at a World Cup in 52 years, a fact that reverberated through Haitian communities from Port-au-Prince to Brooklyn. 

Isidor's goal, widely highlighted as one of the strikes of the tournament, is likely to be remembered as a significant moment in Haiti's footballing history.

For the Caribbean region, Haiti's presence on the world stage served as a broader symbol: that small nations facing extraordinary domestic challenges can still compete at the highest level of international sport.

"Haiti's goals against Morocco were their first at a World Cup in 52 years — ending a drought stretching back to the nation's only previous appearance, in 1974."

— Confirmed across multiple match reports including The Guardian and BBC Sport

Pride in historic achievement despite elimination: Haiti's coach emphasised that the team earned their place at the tournament and gave supporters something to be proud of, even without securing a point. He stressed that the quality of their performances showed Haiti belonged at the World Cup.

Joy tempered by immigration barriers for the diaspora: For many Haitian-Americans, the World Cup was a rare moment of collective pride, but it was shadowed by US travel restrictions that prevented some fans — and reportedly at least one player — from attending matches freely, highlighting broader inequities facing the Haitian community.

Morocco's perspective: Haiti made qualification hard-earned: The Morocco coach acknowledged that Haiti, with nothing to lose, played a disciplined transition game that forced his side to work far harder than expected, twice coming from behind before securing a 4-2 win.

"We showed that we didn't steal our spot here. We deserve to be here. I hope that what we gave the fans was good enough for them."

— Sébastien Migné, Haiti national team manager, via The Guardian