The United States has granted a visa to Woodensky Pierre, the sole member of Haiti’s national soccer team who has been living in the country, allowing him to travel to Florida and reunite with his teammates ahead of the World Cup. The decision came after a heartfelt farewell in his neighborhood of Cite Soleil, where supporters and relatives gathered to wish him safe travels.
Pierre hails from the densely populated and often volatile district of Cite Soleil in Port‑au‑Prince. Despite the challenges of his environment, he has been training with local players in a more affluent area of the capital while awaiting the necessary clearance to join the squad.
Haiti’s qualification for the tournament represents only its second appearance on the world stage, the first having come more than fifty years ago. The team’s previous campaign was marked by limited resources and infrastructure, a reality that still shapes its preparation today.
Training in an unexpected setting
Because the national stadium in Port‑au‑Prince is deemed too unsafe for competitive matches, Haiti has been compelled to host its home World Cup qualifiers in Curaçao. This geographic displacement has meant that the squad’s warm‑up fixtures will be played far from home, adding a layer of logistical complexity to their preparations.
Before the tournament begins, Haiti will face New Zealand and Peru in friendly matches as part of its final tuning. Subsequent group‑stage opponents include Scotland, Brazil, and Morocco, presenting a demanding schedule that tests both depth and resilience.
The arrival of Pierre, alongside teammates Thecieux Jeanty and Guy Ernst Phillipe, signals a rare moment of cohesion for a side that has long navigated political instability and economic hardship. Their participation offers a glimpse of renewed hope for Haitian football and its diaspora.