Overview:
Haiti misplaced to Costa Rica 2-0 on Sunday however superior to the 2026-2027 Nations League quarterfinals, scheduled for November, after ending second in League A’s Group A. The group completed the group stage with 9 factors from 4 matches, together with three victories and one defeat. The 2026 FIFA World Cup debutant Curaçao claimed the group’s prime spot with 10 factors.
Haiti certified for the 2026-2027 Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals Sunday regardless of a 2-0 loss to Los Ticos Costa Rica, at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá in San José, Costa Rica, ending second in Group A with 9 factors and advancing to the knockout stage.
Les Grenadiers’ qualification was confirmed after their neighboring rivals, the Dominican Republic, defeated Nicaragua later Sunday however completed behind Haiti on aim distinction. Curaçao received the group with 10 factors whereas Haiti and the Dominican Republic each completed with 9. Because of this, Haiti’s plus-four aim distinction gave it the sting to second place within the regional event.
The consequence capped a four-match group marketing campaign wherein Haiti scored 9 objectives and conceded 5 underneath new coach David Badía. The group opened with three consecutive victories — a 3-2 comeback towards Trinidad and Tobago, a 2-0 win over Costa Rica and a 4-1 rout of the Dominican Republic — earlier than falling to Costa Rica within the group finale.
Qualifying for the quarterfinal provides Haiti a robust begin to a brand new cycle following the World Cup. The Nations League marketing campaign has given the group an instantaneous alternative to reset underneath Badía, who took cost in September.
Costa Rica strikes early to finish Haiti’s successful streak
Costa Rica, seeking to keep away from relegation to League B, took management early in entrance of their followers.
Carlos Mora opened the scoring within the sixth minute, heading in from a nook. Andrey Soto doubled the lead within the twenty first minute with a left-footed end, giving Costa Rica a 2-0 benefit earlier than halftime.
Haiti, which began the match with 4 adjustments to the beginning 11 that beat the Dominican Republic on Oct. 1, struggled to answer Costa Rica’s punches. The group completed with six photographs and none on track, whereas Costa Rica registered 13 photographs and three on track.
The defeat ended Haiti’s three-game successful streak underneath Badía and its run with out a loss towards Costa Rica in six matches since 2019.
Costa Rica’s victory additionally avenged Haiti’s 2-0 win over Los Ticos on Sept. 27 at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica. Haiti needed to host that match outdoors the nation due to a FIFA ban on its solely commonplace stadium, Stade Sylvio Cator in Port-au-Prince, because of the ongoing safety scenario.
“That is how Haiti at all times does it: We’ll get again up once more after this defeat. We’ll come again stronger, harder, for Haiti,” the Haitian Soccer Federation (FHF) posted after the sport on its Fb web page.
Quarterfinals supply a direct path to 2027 Gold Cup
Haiti’s subsequent Nations League matches can be within the quarterfinals over two legs in November towards the USA — one of many 4 pre-seeded groups, together with Mexico, Canada and Panama. The quarterfinal pairings are decided by the ultimate group-stage rankings and Concacaf’s prescribed seeding formulation.
This subsequent spherical carries an extra stake past development in the Nations League finals to be performed at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium. The 4 quarterfinal winners will qualify immediately for the 2027 Concacaf Gold Cup, whereas the 4 shedding groups will advance to the Gold Cup Prelims.
For Haiti, that makes the November collection the following main check of a group starting a brand new cycle after its long-awaited return to the World Cup.
Les Grenadiers depart the September-October FIFA window with three victories, one defeat, and a quarterfinal ticket of their pocket—a basis they may now attempt to construct on because the post-World Cup period takes form.