World Cup ticket should be Haiti’s light at the end of the tunnel, locals say

CAP-HAÏTIEN — During night games at Parc Saint-Victor in Cap-Haïtien, the ball is barely visible when it’s in the air. Yet, that is where the Haitian League’s final is held. Similarly, many children study at night using the flashlight on their parents’ phones. In the afternoon, they trek long distances to fetch potable water — oftentimes on empty stomachs.

Haiti is a country that has been functioning in the dark, or at the very best under dim light, while battling a multitude of severe crises, from hunger to gang violence, and the collapse of basic infrastructure, from schools to sports facilities. Over the years, several headlines have hinted at potential turning points, like the election of a new president or the construction of an irrigation canal, but each time, the country plunged deeper into darkness. 

On Nov. 18, a new headline sparked a rare wave of hope across Haiti: a ticket to the World Cup. For many Haitians, this achievement is more than just a win on the field. It represents a chance for the country to turn a corner. Soccer is deeply woven into the national identity, an obsession for some, and residents are clinging to the hope that this moment can inspire real change.

“People from every sector need to open their eyes and truly realize that this is a country with potential if things are in order, if people get along and put their heads together,” Football Inter Club Association (FICA)’s head coach Roudy Joseph said, his voice breaking in a WhatsApp call due to Haiti’s patchy internet connection.

Locals hope soccer is the late game-changer

Joseph, along with other Haitian League players, told The Haitian Times that qualifying for the World Cup could be the first step to Haiti becoming a soccer powerhouse in the Americas. They said if Haiti reaches that level, the sport could generate significant revenue that could not only improve soccer locally, but also help lift the country out of its prolonged hardship.  They pointed to countries like Brazil and Argentina, where soccer has bolstered national economies over the years through media rights, sponsorships, international player transfers, taxes from game tickets and more.

“Soccer brings joy, but there’s also the economic side of it,” Michelet Jerôme, a longtime soccer fan, said. 

“It’s time for Haiti to take soccer seriously, whether it’s the government or the private sector. People love soccer; it’s in our DNA. See how much joy soccer gave us. We need to invest in it as other countries do so that we can benefit from it.”

However, Haiti becoming a soccer powerhouse that could generate substantial revenue is far-fetched, given the Haitian government’s long-standing reputation for embezzlement. Even if World Cup participation brings in money, there’s no guarantee that it will lead to meaningful change. 

“Money might come in, but the leaders might not distribute it for Haiti to move forward,” Schneider ‘Dèdè’ Kernizan, a 20-year-old winger with Association Sportive Capoise (ASC), said. “But Haiti making it to the World Cup is the biggest step we can take. It motivates us players locally because we feel like we have a chance too.”

Joseph added that for Haiti to benefit from soccer-generated revenue, the country needs “serious” leaders. He hopes that after Haiti qualifies for the World Cup, the government will invest in the sport to help it grow locally. 

“Soccer fields need major upgrade and repair, teams need training and coaching equipment,” Joseph said. “Coaches must register for high-level training sessions.”

The Haitian League is operating with only 14 teams instead of the usual 18 due to ongoing gang violence in Haiti. Ranch de la Croix-des-Bouquets, a residential youth training center, has shut down after gang members took over the facility. While Haiti’s national team is making strides, the local league is deteriorating, with no local players participating in the World Cup qualifiers. 

Players could play a role in ending gang violence

For Haiti’s local soccer sector to see meaningful improvement, gang violence must first subside. In a video recorded after the team qualified for the World Cup, national players urged gangs to “ouvè peyi a,” Creole for “open the country.” 

“I need to play in my stadium,” said Danley Jean-Jacques, a Haiti-born midfielder, referring to Stade Sylvio Cator, a stadium in Port-au-Prince where Haiti has not played since March 2021. “Don’t make us talk a lot. Open up the country, so we can go down there.”

Other Haiti-born players – Ricardo Adé, who started the #OuvèPeyiA movement, and Carl Fred Sainté –  joined Guadeloupe native Josué Casimir in calling on gangs to open the country, alongside Jean-Jacques in the video. Haiti played its World Cup qualifiers in Curaçao. Casimir, despite helping the country qualify for the World Cup, has never set foot in Haiti.

In the past, players from other countries have used their platforms to call for peace after qualifying for the World Cup. Former Ivory Coast star player Didier Drogba, for example, played a significant role in ending his country’s civil war. After helping the Ivory Coast qualify in 2005, he urged rebels to “lay down their weapons and hold elections.” He later arranged for the team to play a match against Madagascar in Bouaké – a rebel-held city – in June 2007. The civil war formally ended that year with the Ouagadougou Political Agreement.

Haitian gang members have a soft spot for soccer. Some celebrated after Haiti qualified on Nov. 18 and gang leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier gave a speech. Using soccer to persuade gangs to lay down their weapons may be plausible, but it remains highly unlikely given how deeply rooted the violence is. 

“We live in a country where men with guns are technically leading us, qualifying must give us security,” Ernst Clerger, the Haitian League’s top scorer in 2023, said. “Qualifying shows that we have a lot of talent, but the country is holding us back. After qualifying, I hope we put our heads together.”

Haiti’s star striker, Duckens Nazon, also called for unity in a video after the team qualified for the World Cup, stressing that togetherness is essential for peace in the country.

“Take the team’s unity as an example, that’s what made the people’s dream [qualifying for the World Cup] come true,” Nazon said. “L’Union fait la force isn’t just a slogan but a mentality, a way to live.”

The World Cup is scheduled to begin in June and will be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. Clerger hopes two or three local players will get called up to the national squad. He’d also love to see Haiti advance beyond the group stage. But more importantly, he said, the country must see the light at the end of the tunnel after competing on the world stage.

“Two things that can help us now are soccer and music,” Clerger added. “If we use them, the country will develop like other countries. Qualifying for the World Cup can change our lives.”

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