Haiti 4-0 New Zealand: Match Report, Stats and Head-to-Head

Haiti produced a commanding performance in Florida as they warmed up for their World Cup opener against Scotland with a convincing victory over New Zealand.

Steve Clarke’s Scotland will face Haiti on 14 June in Boston in Group C, before also taking on Morocco and Brazil. Haiti, ranked below all of their Group C opponents and the lowest-ranked team at this summer’s finals, showed strong form and attacking quality in their latest friendly despite the challenge of playing against a New Zealand side featuring several recognisable names from British football.

New Zealand included Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood, Motherwell midfielder Elijah Just and new Dundee United signing Jesse Randall, but they were outplayed for much of the match at Inter Miami CF Stadium. Haiti made the better start and took the lead after 12 minutes when Ruben Providence found the net, giving the Caribbean side early control of the contest.

The Haitians extended their advantage shortly after the break. Substitute Lenny Joseph made it 2-0 six minutes into the second half, adding further pressure on New Zealand and underlining Haiti’s sharpness in attack. The third goal arrived just after the hour mark, when Frantzdy Pierrot headed in to put the match beyond doubt. Markhus Lacroix then completed the scoring late on with a long-range strike, sealing a comprehensive 4-0 win for Haiti.

The result will be a boost to Haiti ahead of their meeting with Scotland, as they look to carry momentum into the tournament. The team will hope the emphatic display helps build confidence for a difficult group stage campaign against Scotland, Morocco and Brazil.

Haiti’s preparations had been disrupted by a visa issue involving midfielder Woodensky Pierre, the squad’s only player based in Haiti itself. Pierre was unable to feature against New Zealand because his visa had not been approved by US authorities in time. According to a spokesperson cited by Reuters, he arrived at Miami airport around half-time and hoped to catch the final stages of the match.

Despite that off-field complication, Haiti delivered one of their strongest recent performances, combining pace, energy and finishing quality to overwhelm New Zealand. The win sends a clear warning to Scotland and their other group rivals that Haiti can be competitive and dangerous on the international stage.

For Scotland, the friendly result adds intrigue to the opening match in Boston. Haiti’s confidence will be high after a four-goal victory, while Steve Clarke’s side will have to be ready for a team that arrives with momentum, attacking intent and growing belief as the World Cup approaches.