Haiti’s Under-17 men’s national soccer team has entered its crucial final preparation phase ahead of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Under the guidance of head coach Kovsky Saintvil, the squad has relocated to Ouanaminthe in Haiti’s Northeast Department, where they will train at the facilities of local club Vapor.
The team commenced initial training sessions in Port-au-Prince earlier this month with an expanded roster of over 35 players. Following rigorous technical assessments, the selection has been refined to a focused group of 20 athletes, including three goalkeepers, who traveled to the training camp on January 24.
The squad anticipates reinforcement from approximately four overseas-based players in the coming days, while physical trainer Gabriel Garcia Xatrat is scheduled to join the coaching staff to complete the technical team.
Haiti’s Group C qualifying matches will be held at Guatemala’s Estadio Cementos Progreso between February 3-12, 2026. The competition schedule features encounters against Grenada (February 5, 5:00 AM), Antigua and Barbuda (February 7, 6:00 AM), and host nation Guatemala (February 10, 8:00 AM).
Following their participation in the recent Qatar 2025 U-17 World Cup, which concluded disappointingly for the Caribbean nation, the Grenadiers aim to secure qualification for the tournament’s next edition. A first-place finish in Group C would guarantee advancement to the final phase of the U-17 World Cup, scheduled for Qatar in October-November 2026.
The Haitian delegation is set to depart for Guatemala on February 2 to commence their competitive campaign.