The Haitian men's U-17 team has been in Guatemala since Saturday to participate in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in this category and try to validate its ticket to the Qatari World Cup, which will take place from November 5 to 27, 2025. This would be the third participation of the Haitians in the global competition in this category, after 2007 and 2019.

The young Grenadiers will begin their campaign this Tuesday, February 11, 2025 against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

On this occasion, coach Eddy César spoke to FIFA Media, sharing his ambitions and his dream of following in the footsteps of Yves Philogène Labaze, who led Haiti to its first qualification for the U-17 World Cup in 2007, in South Korea.

During this interview, the Haitian coach reaffirmed his commitment to give his all to make the country proud.

"We started the preparation more than two months ago and we started our last cycle with friendly matches. Then, we will leave for Guatemala. This will be an opportunity to give our expatriates the chance to find some cohesion within our team.

[...]

I estimate our chance at about 90%. And when we get there, we will fill the 10%! Don't forget that we are in the same group as the country that is organizing the tournament. It will be a very difficult match. It is from this perspective that I tell you that we will snatch the 10% in Guatemala. We have never been to this country so we will make sure to acclimatize ourselves to be able to understand the country well and have a good tournament.

[...]

We don't know Qatar either. I really want us to qualify and we are working very, very, very hard to be able to realize this dream and make it come true. We have a golden opportunity to show the whole world that Haiti can do good things and to make sure that we are not spoken badly of. Thanks to football, we can give a good memory and a smile to our country. So that our young people and everyone can rebuild the country.

[...]

I am building something with this team. As a player, I have never played in the final phase of the World Cup. So to do it as a coach, that would be great.

[...]"

Haiti's schedule in Group E of the qualifiers :

(Host country : Guatemala)

Tuesday, February 11 :

Haiti - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

4 p.m. - Estadio Cementos Progreso, Guatemala City

Thursday, February 13 :

Antigua and Barbuda - Haiti

Sunday, February 16 :

Haiti - Guatemala

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44236-haiti-football-qualifying-for-the-qatar-2025-u-17-world-cup-list-of-players-+-calendar.html

BF/ HaitiLibre