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Haiti’s men’s national soccer team opened a new era under Spanish coach David Badía with a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Trinidad and Tobago at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, on Thursday. The triumph marked Les Grenadiers’ return to competitive action following their historic FIFA World Cup appearance and gave Badía an immediate win in his first match.
The match unfolded as a tale of two halves. Haiti’s winger Fafà Picault, who plays for Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United, gave the team an early lead in the 23rd minute with a close-range header from a pass by star forward Wilson Isidor. Trinidad and Tobago equalized through Wayne Frederick’s 31st-minute set-piece goal, sending the teams into halftime level at 1-1. The Soca Warriors then seized control after the break, with center-forward Levi García capitalizing on a Haiti turnover to put Trinidad and Tobago ahead 2-1 in the 59th minute.
Badía responded with tactical adjustments, introducing fresh legs including Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Kenny Quétant, Yassin Fortuné, Ruben Providence, and Frantzdy Pierrot as Haiti pressed for an equalizer. The gamble paid dividends in stoppage time. Isidor set up defender Garven Metusala for the equalizer in the first minute of added time, then completed the comeback himself in the eighth minute of stoppage time to secure the victory. According to Concacaf’s match statistics, Haiti dominated possession with over 69 percent and maintained 92 percent passing accuracy throughout the contest.
The victory positioned Haiti atop Group A with three points as the Concacaf Nations League campaign began. The Dominican Republic also opened with a 3-2 win over Nicaragua, while Curaçao defeated Costa Rica 4-3 in the group’s other opening fixture. Haiti competes in League A, the tournament’s top tier, where twelve teams are divided into two groups of six. The top two finishers in each group advance to November’s quarterfinals, joining automatic qualifiers the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Panama.
Badía’s appointment comes as Haiti navigates an ongoing security crisis that has prevented the national team from hosting competitive matches on home soil and disrupted the country’s domestic soccer infrastructure. His predecessor, Sébastien Migné, departed following Haiti’s World Cup campaign amid criticism of his tactical direction. Haiti’s next challenge arrives on September 27 against Costa Rica, also in Kingston, followed by an October 1 meeting with the Dominican Republic and a group finale in Costa Rica on October 4.
Haiti’s national soccer team has undergone significant transition following its FIFA World Cup participation. The appointment of Spanish coach David Badía this month represents a fresh start for Les Grenadiers, who continue to operate under constraints imposed by Haiti’s security challenges, which have forced the team to play matches outside the country and disrupted domestic soccer development.
Haiti’s performance in the Concacaf Nations League carries direct relevance for Caribbean soccer fans and diaspora communities invested in the nation’s athletic achievements. The tournament represents the region’s premier competitive soccer platform, and Haiti’s strong opening under new leadership signals potential momentum for Caribbean football in the coming months.
Sources and attribution
- The Haitian Times
- Dominican Republic, Haiti and Curaçao secure League A …
- Haiti vs Trinidad and Tobago: Concacaf Nations League stats & head-to-head
- Spanish tactician Badia named new Haiti coach
- Haiti 3-2 Trin & Tob (Sep 24, 2026) Team Stats – ESPN
- Fafà Picault
- Haiti World Cup 2026 team guide
- Fifa World Cup 2026: What you need to know about Haiti
- FIFA World Cup 2026 Team Profile: Haiti | Concacaf
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