For the first time, two Caribbean nations will be participating in one FIFA World Cup™. Curaçao and Haiti players will be keen to follow in the footsteps of their island predecessors who scored at the global finals.
Six men from three nations – Cuba, Jamaica and Haiti – etched their names into World Cup history by finding the net. Three of those six players produced multiple-goal performances.
FIFA takes a look back at the men from the Caribbean who scored in the competition.
Cuba
Scorers: Hector Socorro (3), Jose Magrina, Tomas Fernandez
Socorro was the first player from the Caribbean to score at the global finals, and to this day remains its top marksman thanks to his three goals at France 1938. Cuba were unlikely participants and at a disadvantage because of a shortened roster, but they still made the most of their opportunity.
The Cubans opened their campaign with a wild 3-3 draw against Romania in the opening round. Goals from Socorro and Jose Magrina had Cuba poised to snatch victory, only for Romania to tally a late equaliser. Socorro struck again in extra time, but so did Romania, forcing a replay four days later.
Socorro etched his name on the score-sheet again and was joined by Tomas Fernandez, helping the islanders earn a 2-1 victory and a place in the quarter-finals. A heavy 8-0 defeat to Sweden followed, but Cuba could leave with their heads held high. Meanwhile, Socorro’s name remains prominent as not only the first Caribbean goalscorer, but the joint-sixth top scorer from Concacaf in World Cup history.
Haiti
Scorer: Emmanuel Sanon (2)
Haiti will arrive at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ with a strong stable of goalscorers including Duckens Nazon, who is second on the country’s all-time scoring chart behind the legendary Sanon. It was at Germany 1974 where Sanon announced himself to the world and Haiti put themselves on the map.
In their first match, Haiti sent shockwaves around the globe when they stunned Italy with the opening goal. It came in the 46th minute, and in great style. Philippe Vorbe delivered a perfectly-weighted pass for the lung-busting Sanon, who shook off Italian defender Luciano Spinosi, rounded goalkeeper Dino Zoff and slotted home a composed left-footed finish. It was the first goal conceded by Zoff in an astounding 12 matches, covering 1,142 minutes.
“Once I got the ball at my feet, I looked up and I saw ‘Manno’ Sanon, who was in space because there was only one defender, Spinosi,” recounted Vorbe to FIFA in 2017. “So I put the ball between Spinosi and Manno and he took off so quickly. Manno was one-on-one with Dino Zoff, and we were all transfixed wondering what Manno would do.
“Would he shoot? Would he try to go around him? He dropped a shoulder, took Zoff out of the game and scored. This was really the most beautiful joy of our careers – even our lives – to score against Italy. It was so fantastic.”
Sanon wasn’t done there. In Haiti’s finale against Argentina, he thrilled spectators in Munich when a deflection fell perfectly for him to rocket the ball into the net. The Albiceleste won 4-1, but it was Sanon and Haiti who captured the hearts of the fans.
Jamaica
Scorers: Theodore Whitmore (2), Robbie Earle
The Reggae Boyz arrived at France 1998 with a splash, thanks to their memorable kits and dynamic brand of football. Unfazed by the surroundings, Jamaica struck right on the brink of half-time in their opener against Croatia through Robbie Earle, as the Wimbledon man served up the country’s first World Cup goal with a pinpoint header into the top left corner of net.
“Ricardo Gardner hit a beautiful ball, and I knew a few seconds earlier what he was going to do, so I could make my run and I made my header and it went in,” Earle told FIFA earlier this year.
Croatia went on to secure full points on their way to a surprising podium finish, but Jamaica would also have a positive end to their French tale. In their group finale against Japan, the islanders shook off an early deficit and rallied to claim a 2-1 victory courtesy of a brace from Theodore Whitmore.
The Reggae Boyz midfielder first took advantage of a collision in the area by pouncing on a loose ball and firing home a left-footed effort. Then he cut inside from the right and produced a clinical left-footed finish inside the near post.
“It’s something you can never forget, you never forget those moments,” Whitmore told FIFA. “That game, it was our only victory at France 1998 and that will always remain in my mind.”
