Haiti head coach Sebastien Migne said his team must maintain belief in reaching the knockout rounds following a 1-0 loss to Scotland [1].
The result leaves Haiti fighting for survival in Group C. Because the margin of defeat was narrow, Migne views the performance as a foundation for future matches rather than a failure.
During a post-match press conference held on June 13, 2026 [2], Migne said to the media to frame the defeat. He said that the team's competitive showing against Scotland proves they belong on the world stage. The coach said that the squad is not at the tournament merely to fill a slot in the bracket.
"We should be proud of our performance and keep belief that we can reach the knockout rounds," Migne said [3].
This resilience is critical for a team attempting to navigate the pressures of a World Cup group stage. Migne said that the mentality of the players will determine if they can recover from the opening setback, a necessity for any team hoping to advance.
"We are not at the World Cup to make up the numbers," Migne said [4].
The narrow 1-0 scoreline [1] suggests Haiti remained tactically disciplined throughout the match. By focusing on the quality of play rather than the final result, the coaching staff aims to prevent a collapse in confidence before the remaining group fixtures.
“We are not at the World Cup to make up the numbers.”
Haiti's narrow loss to Scotland indicates they can compete defensively with established European sides. While the loss complicates their path to the knockout stage, the ability to remain competitive in a low-scoring game provides a psychological advantage for the squad as they face their next Group C opponents.
