Haiti victorious – The Philadelphia Sunday Sun
Morocco’s Ayoub El Kaabi (20) shields the ball from Haiti’s Ruben Providence (15) during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Morocco and Haiti in Atlanta, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
While the Haitian National Team had some losses at the World Cup, the fact that they were there for the first time in more than 50 years was in itself a win.
By Chris Murray
For the Philadelphia Sunday SUN
Even though they didn’t win a game during the 2026 World Cup, Haiti and the fans who showed up at Lincoln Financial Field or at the FIFA Fan Fest at Lemon Hill (Fairmount Park) walked away with their heads unbowed.
As Haitian soccer — or “futbol” — fans gathered to watch their country being represented at the World Cup for the first time since 1974, they were hoping against the odds that their country would pull off what would have been one of the greatest upsets in the history of sports with over five-time World Cup champion Brazil.
But while they lost that game 3-0, the struggles that the nation of Haiti has gone through since declaring its independence and overthrowing its French enslavers in 1804, and the current turmoil of gangs and a prolonged state of emergency, made competing on the world stage a victory to Haitian fans.
“We’re proud of the team,” said Nativita Meron, a native of Haiti who lives in Northeast Philadelphia and who was viewing the game at the FIFA Fan Fest. “It’s a joy to have Haiti participating in the World Cup right now because 52 years ago, I was a baby, so I didn’t have a chance to live it. That’s the reason I made the sacrifice to be here — so I can watch it with the people in here.”
Added Kijon Mettules of Newark, N.J., whose parents are from Haiti: “It’s the best feeling ever, because we’re finally competing on the world with other countries really good as well. We’re feeling welcome as a part of the world, too.”
Some of the Haitian Americans at Fanfest hoped that Haiti’s World Cup experience would bring attention to the unrest taking place in the country.
“The world can see us, and maybe they can understand what is going on in our country and maybe we can get some help,” said Harry Dumont, a Haitian American who lives in North Philadelphia.
Haiti’s experience on the world stage has been a story of resilience in more ways than anyone can imagine. There are more than a few Haitians who feel that their country has been punished historically for winning its independence.
“It’s very unjust,” Meron said. “We don’t deserve to what’s going on back home (in Haiti) and how we’re treated like we’re treated overseas as well, because we are fighters and they try to suppress us down everywhere. We don’t know why, but we can guess it’s because we stood up for our freedom.”
Most recently, the Haitian soccer team was forced by FIFA to remove a depiction of the final battle of the Haitian Revolution from its game jersey because it was seen as “too political.”
In qualifying for the World Cup, the Haitian team could not play any of its game at home because of the civil unrest that is taking place in the Caribbean nation today. Meron said Haiti’s presence at the World Cup could be sign of hope for better days for her country.
“It’s a big deal because we can prove ourselves,” Meron said. “Even though we are not home, even though we don’t practice at home and the kids that are born overseas will standup they still know their roots, they will [go] on fighting, so that they will one day rebirth Haiti.”
Haiti’s participation in the World Cup is seen by Haitian fans gathered at the FIFA Fan Fest as a tribute to their continuing resilience as a people.
“I’ve never met a Haitian that you could put down at all,”said Alexis Rejouis, a producer at WGAL TV in Lancaster, whose parents are from Haiti. “I think [it] proves that we’re always going to come out on top, even with all the turmoil in the country. We’re always going to come and do what we can when it comes to represent our country, and we put positivity for Haiti.”
The World Cup, and FIFA Fan Fest continues this week as teams jockey for position in the tournament’s knockout rounds. Unfortunately, Haiti won’t be participating in that round. The team lost its final match of the World Cup to Morocco 4-2 and has been eliminated from the World Cup.