Les Grenadiers Begin Port St. Lucie Camp — 17 Days to Kickoff
Haiti's 26-man squad, announced May 15 by coach Sébastien Migné, is now into the first full day of its pre-tournament training camp at the voco Sandpiper All-Inclusive Resort in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The camp, which runs from May 24 to June 8, is hosted by the newly-formed USL's Port St. Lucie Soccer Club and gives Les Grenadiers a stable two-week base before travelling north for their Group C opener.
The squad is heavily diaspora-based. Key figures include goalkeeper Johny Placide (Bastia, Ligue 1), midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, forward Wilson Isidor, and Frantzdy Pierrot — on loan at Çaykur Rizespor from AEK. Three MLS players also made the cut: Philadelphia Union midfielder Danley Jean Jacques, FC Dallas forward Don Deedson Louicius, and Toronto FC forward Derrick Etienne Jr.
Haiti's Group C schedule: vs. Scotland, June 13, Boston (9 p.m. ET); vs. Brazil, June 19, Philadelphia (8:30 p.m. ET); vs. Morocco, date TBC. It is Haiti's first World Cup appearance since 1974 — 52 years ago — when Emmanuel "Manno" Sanon famously ended Dino Zoff's 1,142-minute international shutout with Haiti's opening goal against Italy.
Two friendly matches are scheduled for early June in the United States ahead of competitive play.