With the 2026 World Cup just over a week away, Wolves midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde is soon set to achieve an aim he has had since a young boy – to represent his country at the tournament.
Born in France, but of Haitian descent, Bellegarde became a fully-fledged international earlier this season and played a key role in securing Haiti’s place at the World Cup, in what was a historic moment for his country.
In a group also consisting of Brazil, Scotland and Morocco, Haiti will have their work cut out if they are to accomplish something never done before and win a match at the World Cup.
Haiti’s World Cup 2026 fixtures:
- Haiti vs Scotland | 14th June 2026 | Boston
- Brazil vs Haiti | 20th June 2026 | Philadelphia
- Morocco vs Haiti | 24th June 2026 | Atlanta
And although he’s yet to visit Haiti due to safety, as the country has been embroiled in conflict, political infighting and severe gang violence since 2020, Bellegarde is hopeful the power of football can be used for good during the summer, with the national team’s success being an inspiration for the next generation of Haitians.
On representing Haiti at the World Cup
“It’s amazing for me. It’s the second World Cup for Haiti and I hope we can show a good face for the team, play well and represent the country as best as we can.
“It’s going to be a very different situation to what I’ve experienced at Wolves this season, but now the Premier League season is finished I need to switch my focus and my mentality to my country and I hope I can join them and give them more of my good energy to the team and for everyone.”
On reaching the World Cup for the first time since 1974
“When I remember back to November when we first qualified for the World Cup, my feeling was good and I was so happy, but when the situation at the club is very difficult, it made it hard for me to really enjoy the situation with Haiti, but I’m really looking forwards to the tournament.
“Every time I play for Haiti or put on my national team shirt, I really feel it inside my Haitian heart. It is always happy when you can see a player play well when they are representing Haiti because the situation in the country is very difficult now and we need to give a smile and give happiness to the people of our country.”
On football bringing Haiti together
“It’s a very difficult situation in Haiti politically, but when we qualified for the World Cup the country celebrated a bit, for one or two days, and they were able to enjoy it.
“Hopefully before the World Cup I can go for one day to Haiti and we can celebrate together. It’s been difficult to go before because we can’t go into Haiti easily, but hopefully we can go and the country can be better.
“I think football can help the country come together and we saw that when we qualified for the World Cup, the country was happy for one or two days, but the situation is very difficult. I don’t know, maybe if we win a game at the World Cup, maybe then we will see the people being happy again.”
Ann reviv kèk moman nan match Grenadye yo fas peyi Islann lan 🇭🇹 pic.twitter.com/jgxQG6EWQS
— Fédération Haïtienne de Football (@fhfhaiti) May 6, 2026
On being a positive role model
“The World Cup has always been a very important competition for the country, for giving joy to the country, for giving young people a chance to see what they can achieve in football.
“For young people growing up in Haiti in the current situation, it will allow them to keep believing and will be a very good example for the young people in Haiti.”
On aiming to make history
“I grew up always wanting to play in the World Cup one day. All the people want to see the World Cup, and when I play in it, I want to give my best, but we need to believe we can play well against the big teams who we will come up against.
“It would be an incredible achievement for my country to win a game at the World Cup. We don’t know what the aim is, because we know it’s going to be very difficult, but we need to try to just take it game by game, try to play well, and see what happens.
“If we play well, you don’t know what could happen.”
