From extreme poverty to the World Cup » He was adopted, delivered pizza and is now in the national team

The Belgian player from Zulte Waregem was adopted and delivered pizzas before being called up to the final tournament in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico.

The obstacles that Wilguens Paugain went through

He was a child left to his fate in Thomazeau, Haiti, in a context of extreme poverty gripping the Central American country, before being adopted, at the age of 5, by a French family and moving to Épinal, France.

His passion for sports began with tennis, but soon the dream of football appeared, and at the age of 12 he was recruited by the academy of Nancy-Lorraine. But the dream turned into a nightmare: at 18, a serious injury interrupted his career.

Eight months lasted the ordeal of the defender, who returned to Épinal and had to look for a solution outside the field. He didn't let himself get knocked down and worked as a pizza delivery boy. After being overlooked in the French regional league on his return to the field, he has gained momentum in 2022, signing his first professional contract in Cyprus. He went through dressing rooms in Latvia and Austria before arriving, in February 2025 in Belgium where he helped Zulte Waregem to promote.

Called up to the Haitian national team in March 2025, he is part of the chosen for the World Championship, willing to give everything on the right flank of the defense.

“This is an opportunity for the world to stop neglecting Haiti. When people talk about the country, it's about natural disasters, political instability and gangs, rarely anything positive. I hope the World Cup brings back respect for our team and our country.”he declared, according to abola.pt.

Haiti's squad for the 2026 World Cup

• porter: Josue Duverger (FC Cosmos Koblenz), Alexandre Pierre (Sochaux), Johny Placide (SC Bastia)

• defense: Ricardo Ade (LDU Quito), Carlens Arcus (Angers), Hannes Delcroix (Lugano), Jean-Kevin Duverne (Gent), Martin Experience (AS Nancy), Duke Lacroix (Colorado Springs), Wilguens Paugain (Zulte Waregem), Keeto Thermoncy (Young Boys II)

• midfielders: Carl Fred Sainte (El Paso Locomotive), Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (Wolverhampton), Leverton Pierre (Vizela), Danley Jean Jacques (Philadelphia Union), Woodensky Pierre (Violette AC), Dominique Simon (Tatran Presov)

• ATTACKERS: Josue Casimir (Auxerre), Louicius Deedson (FC Dallas), Derrick Etienne Jr. (Toronto FC), Yassin Fortune (Vizela), Wilson Isidor (Sunderland), Lenny Joseph (Ferencvaros), Duckens Nazon (Esteghlal), Frantzdy Pierrot (Rizespor), Ruben Providence (Almere City)