Haiti qualifies for the 2026 World Cup

Haiti has qualified for the World Cup for the second time in its history after winning Group C of the CONCACAF qualifiers—a major achievement for a nation long affected by insecurity, political instability, and natural disasters. However, Haitian fans may not be able to attend their team’s matches because much of the 2026 World Cup will take place in the United States, a country that currently bars entry to Haitian citizens under an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in June 2025. Only athletes, coaches, officials, and immediate family members are exempt, leaving regular supporters without clear guidance.

To avoid immigration complications, FIFA is considering placing Haiti in a group that will play most of its matches in Canada, one of the tournament’s co-hosts. According to scheduling options released in June 2024, Haiti could be placed in Group L, playing two matches in Toronto on June 17 and 23, or in Group G, which includes two fixtures in Vancouver on June 21 and 26. A third match location remains undecided, and FIFA has not confirmed whether fans would be subject to the U.S. travel ban.

Canada is seen as the logical destination for Haiti’s fixtures due to deep historical and cultural ties. Haitian migration to French-speaking Canada began in large numbers during the 1970s under the Duvalier regime. Today, roughly 178,000 people of Haitian origin live in Canada—about 80% in Quebec, particularly in the Montreal metropolitan area. Haiti ranks among the top 15 countries with the highest number of immigrants in Canada, making the country a natural home base for Haitian supporters during the World Cup.