In a critical qualifying match for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026, Haiti’s young national team, known as the Grenadières, suffered a significant 3-1 setback against Puerto Rico. The match, played at the Costa Rican Football Federation’s Field No. 1 in Alajuela, Costa Rica, has complicated Haiti’s path to the global tournament.
The Puerto Rican squad, nicknamed the ‘Coqui Warriors,’ established control late in the first half. Striker Mia Colon broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute, slotting home the opening goal. The momentum continued for Puerto Rico just before halftime when Colon was fouled inside the penalty area, resulting in a spot-kick. Giselle Falcon calmly converted the penalty in the 45th minute, doubling the lead.
Haiti’s captain, Miya Larco, provided a momentary spark of hope for her team. Merely a minute after conceding the second goal, Larco unleashed a powerful right-footed strike from outside the box, finding the net and cutting the deficit to 2-1 before the break.
Despite a resilient effort in the second half, the Grenadières could not find an equalizer. Puerto Rico sealed their victory in the 67th minute when Michaela Poidomani scored, restoring a two-goal cushion and securing all three points for her team.
Head Coach Frenoy Baptiste made several tactical substitutions in the second half, bringing on players like Krystel Châtelain and Adjani Kamanzi-Mondestin to alter the game’s dynamics, but the changes were unable to reverse the outcome.
This result places immense pressure on the Haitian team. With only the group winner and the two best second-place finishers across three groups advancing from the CONCACAF qualifiers, Haiti now sits at the bottom of Group B with zero points from one match. Their upcoming fixture against a dominant United States team, which demolished Bermuda 18-0, is now a must-win encounter. The Grenadières’ final group match will be against Bermuda on March 22.