Haiti's World Cup Dream: Football as a Beacon of Hope Amid Gang

For two days in 2004, the violence in Haiti stopped. The arrival of world champions Brazil for an exhibition match in conflict-torn Port-au-Prince brought the capital to a standstill. Thousands of locals, waving Brazilian flags and wearing yellow and green, lined the streets and climbed trees for a glimpse of their heroes: Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Roberto Carlos. Haitian journalist Pierre Richard Midy recalls foreign friends asking, 'Are you sure the Brazilians are playing in Haiti? It sounds like the Brazilians are at home.'

Haiti, whose men's team made its only World Cup appearance in 1974, has long adopted Brazil as its team on the global stage. That affinity deepened over the past two decades as Brazil played key roles in peacekeeping, humanitarian aid, and migration support. The 2004 friendly, organized by the United Nations, ended in a 6-0 loss for Haiti, but the match was about more than the scoreline. Midy remembers 'an atmosphere of peace' and that gangs seemed 'ready to turn the page and cease fire for two days.'

Hope on the Horizon: Haiti's Women's World Cup Debut

This year, Haitians are preparing for a rare opportunity: not only to support their own team at the Women's World Cup but also to face Brazil again. Both teams are in Group C, alongside Scotland and Morocco. Streets have been cleaned, Haitian flags hung with pride, and fans are finding creative ways to watch the matches despite a chronic electricity shortage. Once again, football represents hope, not scorelines.

Haiti is largely controlled by gangs and grappling with a humanitarian crisis deepened by natural disasters, including the 2010 earthquake that killed more than 100,000 people. The country is so dangerous that the national team has not played a home match in five years. The coach has never set foot on the island, most players were born abroad, and attending the World Cup is nearly impossible for fans due to US travel bans imposed by President Donald Trump's administration and prohibitive costs.

A Team Carrying History

'We have many players who have never been in Haiti, so before the game starts, sometimes I used to share with them the reality of the country, the responsibility we have on our shoulders,' said Duckens Nazon, Haiti's all-time top scorer. '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.'

One player who knows the realities firsthand is Woodensky Pierre, Haiti's only domestic-based player. The defensive midfielder was raised in the slum of Cite Soleil and plays for Violette AC, one of Haiti's biggest clubs. Violette's home ground, Stade Sylvio Cator, hosted Haiti's home matches until it was taken over by gangs two years ago. Violette became league champions a month before the World Cup, but the start of their final match was delayed by gunfire—a stark illustration of daily life in Haiti.

Woodensky was initially called up by coach Sebastien Migne based solely on online videos, as Migne could not see him play in person. '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,' said Midy. 'He is precious for Haitian people because we think he's the one to say, "we are not dead, we have talent here." He always says, "I'm not only carrying the ball, I'm carrying the hopes where I come from."'

Inspiring a Legacy of Peace

Nazon hopes that Woodensky's example, and the team's journey, can inspire peace. 'This is what we try to share with the new generation,' he said. 'You're not obligated to take weapons. You're not obligated to go with gangs or to deal or smoke drugs. There are so many ways to get out of the struggle.'