Haiti is going back to the World Cup. For the first time since 1974, the Caribbean nation has punched its ticket to the global stage, and former US men’s national team striker Jozy Altidore, the son of Haitian parents, is making sure everyone understands why this matters far beyond the pitch.
The timing is notable for crypto. The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will feature Kraken as FIFA’s Official Crypto Exchange Supporter. And with Bernstein research forecasting up to $10 billion in combined sports betting and prediction market volume around the tournament, the intersection of football and digital assets has never looked quite this tangible.
A 52-year wait ends
Haiti clinched qualification in November 2025 with a 2-0 victory over Nicaragua. The last time Haiti appeared at a World Cup, Richard Nixon was still in office.
Altidore, who retired from professional football in 2023, has been vocal about what this achievement means for Haiti and its global diaspora. In interviews and across social media, he’s framed the qualification as something that transcends sport entirely, a source of collective pride for a nation that has weathered more than its share of hardship.
