The Haitian immigrant who beat England at the World Cup -- then disappeared

The Haitian immigrant who beat England at the World Cup -- then disappeared returns to the spotlight as Haiti returns to the FIFA World Cup after a long absence and a new novel revives the story of Joseph Edouard Gaetjens. Haiti plays Scotland in its opening match of the 2026 World Cup on Saturday, marking its first World Cup appearance since 1974. In the 1950 tournament, Gaetjens, a Haitian immigrant who joined the U.S. team, scored the winning goal against England, one of soccer’s biggest upsets. His rise to legend was followed by his disappearance in Haiti during François Duvalier’s dictatorship. Haitian author Dimitry Elias Léger began writing Death of the Soccer God after returning from Brazil, host of the 2014 World Cup, and finished it as Haiti returned to global competition. At a Brooklyn Public Library launch last month, Léger described the narrative as intertwining soccer with what it means for immigrants to define home. The article also recounts Gaetjens’ New York life, including time in Harlem and studies at Columbia.