Haiti don finally make am to World Cup for first time since 1974. Di Caribbean nation wey dey struggle with gang violence and natural disasters go play for 2026 tournament for United States, Mexico and Canada. Di team wey coach Sebastien Migne dey lead go face Scotland, Brazil and Morocco for Group C.
Di excitement for Haiti dey high, even as di country dey face serious challenges. Fans dey find creative ways to watch matches because electricity dey scarce. Some dey rent generators or use solar-powered inverters to power television for di neighbourhood. Local groups dey distribute kits wey include TV and inverter systems to help pipo follow di tournament.
Haiti don dey play dia ‘home’ matches 500 miles away for Curacao because of insecurity. Di national team no don play for home since 2021. Di 26-man squad get 16 players wey born abroad, across five countries. Di team represent 25 clubs from 15 countries.
One player wey know di reality well na Woodensky Pierre, di only domestic-based player for di squad. Di defensive midfielder grow for Cite Soleil slum and play for Violette AC. Dia home ground, Stade Sylvio Cator, don dey controlled by gangs since two years ago. Violette become league champions one month before World Cup, but di start of dia final match delay because of gunfire.
Coach Migne first call Woodensky based on online videos because e no fit see am play for flesh. Haitian journalist Pierre Richard Midy say: ‘This player is from one of the most dangerous neighbourhoods in Haiti. He plays with instinct because he learned early that hesitation costs you everything.’
All-time top scorer Duckens Nazon, wey born for France to Haitian parents, dey lead di attack with 44 goals in 80 games. E say: ‘When we put the shirt on, it’s more than a normal game. We are the first independent black nation in the world. We have a lot of history. We have to assume this role.’
Di team go open dia World Cup campaign against Scotland for Boston on June 13. Boston get one of di largest Haitian diasporas for United States, so dem expect strong support. Di match against Brazil go be special, as Brazil don be favourite team for many Haitians since dia 1974 World Cup appearance. But Nazon say: ‘They can like Brazil, they can like other teams, but only support us.’
Haiti qualify for World Cup on November 18, a significant date wey mark di slave revolt wey overthrow Napoleon’s rule at Battle of Vertieres for 1803. Di team plan to wear shirt wey feature image of dat battle, but FIFA ban am because e dey against rules wey forbid political messages on kit.
Di hope be say football fit once again bring peace, like when Brazil play exhibition match for Haiti for 2004. Dat time, gangs stop violence for two days. Midy remember: ‘All the gang leaders are soccer lovers. After the qualification, I saw videos of the gang leaders celebrating like everyone on the streets, with music.’
