"I think that in 2026, we will be there."
Those were the words of hope and optimism from North Texas SC's Carl Sainté, one of Haiti's brightest young talents, when he was asked if Haiti would take part in the World Cup when it arrives in North America in 2026.
Throughout its history, Haiti has fostered a deep-rooted passion for soccer, experiencing a mix of triumphs and setbacks along the way. Despite the challenges, Haiti continues to develop talented players and actively competes in international tournaments.
In the 1960s and 70s, Haiti's national team, affectionately referred to as "Les Grenadiers," gained international recognition during their golden era of soccer. This period saw Haiti achieve a significant milestone by qualifying for the 1974 World Cup, marking their first and only appearance in the tournament.
Haiti qualified for the World Cup in 1973 when they won the CONCACAF Championship (now the Gold Cup), making them the first Caribbean nation to win the tournament.
During the 1974 World Cup, Haiti demonstrated its determination and talent, despite not advancing from the group stage. Emmanuel Sanon played a pivotal role, scoring two goals in three matches, including a memorable goal against Italy, who had not conceded a goal in 19 games prior to the tournament.
Fast forward to the 2019 Gold Cup, Haiti became the king of comebacks during the tournament. Despite facing deficits in matches against Bermuda and Costa Rica, they rallied back each time and secured victories. Their performances led them to top their group with a perfect 9 points, earning them a spot in the tournament's knockout rounds.
Haiti next faced off against Canada in one of the most memorable games in recent Gold Cup history. Mounting a comeback for the ages after trailing 2-0 at halftime, Haiti secured a thrilling 3-2 victory, booking their ticket to the semifinals.
In the semifinals, Haiti put up a tremendous fight against Mexico. Despite taking the game into extra time, they eventually lost to a penalty goal by Raul Jimenez. Nonetheless, Haiti's performance throughout the tournament earned them the admiration of opponents and fans alike.
In a remarkable coincidence, Haiti's semifinal match against Mexico in the 2019 Gold Cup occurred at State Farm Stadium in Arizona, which also serves as the venue for their upcoming 2023 Gold Cup encounter and the site where MLS NEXT Pro was able to speak to Carl Sainté about his upcoming match against Mexico.
"We have respect for them, but it's not like we're scared of them. We have a really strong team, a very good team, and I think we're ready for that. It's going to be a good game." Sainté stated.
The young midfielder had a great start to his first-ever Gold Cup, starting in Haiti's first Group B matchup against Qatar.
The 20-year-old played 89 minutes, registering an 85% passing rate along with one key pass. Defensively, he was solid, earning two interceptions and four tackles for his side. Haiti won the game thanks to a Frantzdy Pierrot stoppage-time goal.
"I felt very good about the first game, as a young player, I feel very proud. I'm very happy to be here to represent my country." Sainté said of the win.
Sainté made his senior debut for Haiti in 2022 against Guatemala as a 19-year-old.
Sainté's footballing journey in MLS NEXT Pro began in 2022 when he went on loan to North Texas SC from New Mexico United. After a solid 2022 MLS NEXT Pro campaign, North Texas SC announced it had exercised a permanent transfer and signed Sainté to an MLS NEXT Pro contract through 2024 with a club option for the 2025 season.
Since then, Sainté has been a permanent fixture for Javier Cano’s squad in 2023, starting in eight of his ten games played this season. Sainté has been a steady presence in the midfield registering an 87.6% successful passing percentage and 11 interceptions.
The midfielder also scored an impressive free-kick goal against Houston Dynamo 2 on May 21.
Sainté spoke about his time in MLS NEXT Pro and credited the North Texas SC staff for helping him get to a point where he can be a starter for Haiti in an international competition.
"It's really helped me because my coaches, all the staff, they always try to go hard on me everyday to get better. That's the result (playing in a Gold Cup), and I feel very happy to be with the national team."
North Texas SC General Manager Matt Denny had this to say about Sainté and his Gold Cup performance so far: “It speaks volume to the talent we have here at the club and in the league. MLS NEXT Pro is a hotbed for the young and upcoming talented players. You can see that in Carl, he is a great player. For him to step up and perform the way he did in the first game (vs Qatar in the Gold Cup), we are excited to see him in the upcoming games. He’s representing North Texas SC and MLS NEXT Pro. I am sure we will have more young quality players come through like this in the future.”
All eyes will be on Haiti and Sainté as they hope to gain a positive result against Mexico, a team they have never defeated in international competition, as they main event Group B action in Glendale, Arizona.
A victory against one of Concacaf's powerhouses would serve as a significant stepping stone towards fulfilling Carl Sainté's bold prediction for 2026, a prediction that an entire nation will be dreaming comes true.
The interview with Carl Sainté has been edited for length and clarity.
