News Focus
- Josué Duverger selected from Germany’s fifth tier for Haiti World Cup squad
- The 26-year-old plays for Oberliga Rheinland side FC Cosmos Koblenz
- Will serve as backup to captain Johny Placide of SC Bastia
- Haiti return to World Cup finals for first time since 1974 debut
- Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor also named in the travelling party
FC Cosmos Koblenz are set to see their goalkeeper compete on the biggest stage in football. The Oberliga Rheinland outfit will watch Josué Duverger represent Haiti at the World Cup after the shot-stopper secured a place in the final 26-man party.
At 26 years old, Duverger is expected to provide cover for skipper Johny Placide. The captain currently plies his trade with SC Bastia in France’s third division following their demotion from Ligue 2.
Haiti have yet to produce a player who has featured in Germany’s top flight. However, Duverger – who was born in Canada – moved to the amateur ranks of German football last year. He signed for Cosmos Koblenz in 2024 following previous stints in Portugal.
The club faced a battle to avoid the drop earlier this term. Yet a run of four straight wins has lifted them to ninth position in their regional section of Germany’s fifth tier.
The keeper featured during the qualification phase. He took part in the 3-3 stalemate with Costa Rica that helped seal Haiti’s place at the finals. However, his previous meetings with Canada ended in disaster. During the qualifying rounds for the Qatar tournament, he scored an embarrassing own goal against the country of his birth. A straightforward back pass slipped under his boot, and his hurried clearance attempt only sent the ball into his own net.
Coach Sébastien Migné has also received a major boost ahead of the tournament. Sunderland forward Wilson Isidor has committed to the cause. The Caribbean nation are returning to the World Cup for the first time since their inaugural appearance in West Germany fifty years ago.
Their group stage opponents include Brazil, Morocco and Scotland. This draws parallels with the 1998 tournament, where these three nations shared a section.
The Full 26-Man Squad:
Goalkeepers: Johny Placide (SC Bastia), Alexandre Pierre (FC Sochaux), Josué Duverger (FC Cosmos Koblenz)
Defenders: Carlens Arcus (Angers SCO), Wilguens Paugain (SV Zulte Waregem), Duke Lacroix (Colorado Springs), Martin Experience (AS Nancy-Lorraine), Jean-Kevin Duverne (KAA Gent), Ricardo Adé (LDU Quito), Hannes Delcroix (FC Lugano), Keeto Thermoncy (BSC Young Boys II)
Midfielders: Leverton Pierre (FC Vizela), Carl-Fred Sainthe (El Paso Locomotive FC), Jean-Jacques Danley (Philadelphia Union), Jeanricner Bellegarde (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Pierre Woodenski (Violette AC), Dominique Simon (FC Tatran Prešov)
Forwards: Louicius Deedson (FC Dallas), Ruben Providence (Almere City FC), Josué Casimir (AJ Auxerre), Derrick Etienne (Toronto FC), Wilson Isidor (Sunderland AFC), Duckens Nazon (Esteghlal FC), Frantzdy Pierrot (Çaykur Rizespor), Yassin Fortune (FC Vizela), Lenny Joseph (Ferencváros TC)