In a stunning display of resilience, Haiti’s Under-20 national football team secured their advancement to the final qualifying round for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup with a dramatic 2-1 victory against host nation Curaçao on March 4th, 2026. The match, played at Willemstad’s Rinaldo Jean Francisca Stadium, saw the Haitian Grenadiers overcome a late deficit with two goals in the final moments of regulation and stoppage time.
The CONCACAF Champions League qualifier appeared destined for disappointment when Curaçao’s Damienthly Bernardina converted a 63rd-minute penalty, putting the hosts ahead 1-0. As the match approached full time, Haiti’s prospects of advancing seemed increasingly dim.
However, in a remarkable turnaround, midfielder Miguel Joseph delivered a spectacular equalizer in the 90th minute with a perfectly executed free kick that found the top right corner of the net. The dramatic equalizer set the stage for an even more sensational conclusion when substitute Kervens Romulus scored the decisive header in the 93rd minute, completing the comeback and sending the Haitian squad into celebration.
Under the guidance of Cuban coach Raúl González Triana, Haiti finished Group D with a perfect record of four victories, scoring 16 goals while conceding only once. The team’s impressive campaign included dominant performances against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (4-0), Guyana (3-0 by forfeit), and Anguilla (7-0).
The victory marks Haiti’s fourth consecutive win in the qualifying tournament and secures their place in the final round of the CONCACAF U-20 Championship, which serves as the pathway to the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup. The Haitian squad demonstrated particular strength throughout the group stage, finishing with 12 points ahead of Curaçao (9 points), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (6 points), Guyana (3 points), and Anguilla (0 points).