Newcastle United’s former winger Allan Saint-Maximin has denied reports linking him with a call-up to the Haiti national team for next summer’s World Cup.
Haiti secured a historic qualification for only their second-ever World Cup, topping their qualifying group ahead of Costa Rica, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Their last appearance was in 1974, when they exited at the group stage without scoring a point and conceding 14 goals. Currently, Haiti are ranked 84th in the world by FIFA.
Rumours had circulated that Saint-Maximin, who has not played for a senior national team but represented France at U21 level, could switch allegiance due to his Guadeloupean and Guyanese roots. However, the 28-year-old, now at Club América in Mexico after moving from Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli, took to social media to set the record straight. He wrote:
“There is no approach and no project concerning the Haitian national team. Total respect to the Haitian players who earned their place — they fought hard for this World Cup.”
Saint-Maximin has made a solid start in Mexico, scoring three goals and providing two assists in 12 appearances.
He is not the only player linked to Haiti, as Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor, eligible for both Haiti and France, is reportedly still considering his options. Unlike Saint-Maximin, Isidor has never represented France at youth level and has scored four Premier League goals this season in his debut campaign.
The draw for the World Cup group stage will take place in the USA on Friday, 5 December, with the expanded 48-team tournament featuring 12 groups of four. Each team will play three group matches, with the top two from each group — plus the best eight third-placed teams — advancing to the knockout rounds. The final is set for MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 19 July.
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