New Delhi : The expansion of the FIFA World Cup to 48 teams was met with plenty of debate. Purists worried about diluted quality, whilst romanticists dreamed of fairy tales. As the tournament across Canada, Mexico, and the United States kicks off, it is the romanticists who are winning the argument.
For Haiti, qualifying for North America 2026 is the culmination of a deeply emotional dream. Les Grenadiers have not graced the world stage since 1974, making their return a moment of immense national pride. Haiti have been drawn into a brutal Group C alongside European dark horses Scotland, African giants Morocco, and five-time world champions Brazil. Mign’s 26-man squad is built around experienced, European-based professionals, heavily blending tactical discipline with dynamic speed on the break.
Nicknamed “Le Duc” (The Duke), the nomadic striker is the emotional heartbeat and undisputed icon of Haitian football. As the nation’s all-time top competitive goalscorer, his road to this tournament has been extraordinary – overcoming a suspended domestic season with Iranian club Esteghlal by drafting his own isolated training programmes. With a population of just over 150,000, the tiny Caribbean island of Curacao has become the smallest nation ever to qualify for a FIFA World Cup.
Placed in a formidable Group E, the debutants face an unenviable initiation against Germany, Ecuador, and Ivory Coast. The squad boasts significant technical quality, featuring the Bacuna brothers (Leandro and Juninho) in midfield, alongside former Premier League winger Tahith Chong. The Blue Sharks of Cape Verde have steadily earned respect within African football, but topping a qualifying group ahead of continental powerhouses Cameroon to secure a maiden World Cup berth is their crowning achievement.
The squad composition relies on an experienced defensive foundation, featuring veteran 39-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha and Villarreal’s imposing centre-back Logan Costa. Strictly speaking, the Democratic Republic of Congo are not debutants. They competed as Zaire in 1974. However, after a painful 52-year absence, their qualification feels like a rebirth.
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