El Paso is going to the World Cup — at least one of its own is. Carl Sainte, a key figure for El Paso Locomotive FC in USL Championship, has been called up to represent Haiti at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to reports from local El Paso outlets KFOX and KDBC. It's the kind of moment that reminds soccer fans everywhere just how deep the sport's roots run, even in markets that don't always make national headlines.
For the El Paso soccer community, this is a massive deal. Locomotive FC has been one of the most successful clubs in the USL Championship era, and seeing one of their players earn a World Cup callup puts the organization — and the city — on an international stage. It's a validation not just for Sainte personally, but for the entire El Paso soccer ecosystem that has helped develop and showcase talent year after year.
Sainte's journey to a World Cup roster is the kind of story American soccer fans love. Players competing at the USL level don't always get the spotlight that MLS stars command, but the quality in the second division has grown considerably in recent years. Sainte's callup is proof that scouts and national team managers are paying attention beyond the top flight, and that USL is a legitimate proving ground for international-level talent.
Haiti's presence at the 2026 World Cup is itself a significant storyline. The tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be the most widely accessible World Cup in history for American fans — and having a player from a local El Paso club representing a CONCACAF nation adds a hometown flavor to what is already shaping up to be an unforgettable tournament.
For Locomotive supporters who pack into Southwest University Park, this callup carries real emotional weight. Watching a familiar face compete on the sport's grandest stage — potentially in venues across North America — is something fans will cherish for years to come.
As the 2026 World Cup draws closer, stories like Sainte's will only grow in importance. They connect local communities to global soccer in a way that no broadcast deal or marketing campaign ever could. El Paso now has a genuine rooting interest when Haiti takes the field, and that's something truly special.
Keep it locked to El Paso Soccer News for continued coverage of Carl Sainte, Haiti's World Cup journey, and everything happening with Locomotive FC ahead of what promises to be a historic summer of soccer right here in North America.