As the countdown to the 2026 FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup in Qatar continues, Haiti’s young national squad, nicknamed the Grenadiers, has entered an intensified second phase of pre-tournament training based in the northeastern Haitian city of Ouanaminthe. Under the leadership of head coach Kowsky Sainvil, the team has used a series of challenging friendlies against squads of older, more experienced players to test its form and identify areas for improvement ahead of the global competition.
The three warm-up matches delivered a mixed set of results for the young Haitian side. The Grenadiers opened the friendly series with a narrow 1-0 loss to host side Ouanaminthe FC, but bounced back quickly to secure a 1-1 draw against Real Hope just days later. The draw received a boost from the timely return of several squad members who had been competing in Jamaica, who brought added match sharpness to the side. The preparation camp concluded with a standout performance, as Haiti ran out convincing 4-2 winners over Trou du Nord, building momentum ahead of the next stage of training.
A key feature of this Ouanaminthe preparation phase has been the inclusion of seven Haiti-born players based in North America, with clubs in the United States and Canada. Sainvil confirmed that coaching staff will now evaluate the performance of these overseas-based players over the coming weeks to decide which will earn a spot in the final preparation camp, scheduled to take place in Brazil.
Widely known as the birthplace of football legend Pelé, Brazil will offer the Grenadiers the chance to compete against high-caliber opposition in a series of final friendly matches. These matches will be critical for Sainvil to narrow his squad down to the required 21-player roster that will represent Haiti in Qatar from November 19 to December 13, 2026.
Haiti learned its group stage opponents back in the official draw held on May 21, 2026. Drawn into Group D, the young Grenadiers will face three tough opponents in 2023 World Cup host France, Middle Eastern side Saudi Arabia, and South American powerhouse Uruguay. The official match schedule for the group stage confirms Haiti will kick off its U-17 World Cup campaign against France on November 19 at Doha’s Aspire Zone on Field 9. The squad will then face Uruguay on November 22 at Aspire Zone’s Field 8, before wrapping up group stage play against Saudi Arabia on November 25 at Aspire Zone’s Field 1.