Student Voices: “Echoes of Glory” exhibit honors Haiti’s World Cup Legacy
As Haiti proceeds through the FIFA World Cup 2026, a limited-time exhibition in Uptown celebrates the players, artists and community leaders who have shaped the nation’s soccer legacy.
“Echoes of Glory: 1974 / 2026,” presented by the Haitian American Museum of Chicago (HAMOC), opened on June 11 with an art showcase and panel discussion exploring Haiti’s enduring connection to the world’s most popular sport. The exhibition commemorates Haiti’s historic appearance at the 1974 World Cup while honoring the generations of players who followed.
On opening night, visitors packed the HAMOC office, where artwork, photographs and memorabilia highlighted key moments in Haitian soccer history. Museum founder and CEO Elsie Hector Hernandez welcomed attendees, while HAMOC’s Director of Programs and Museum Practice, Carlos Bossard, described the event as being “of, by, and for the Haitian community.”
Moderated by professor and HAMOC volunteer Dr. Courtney Pierre Joseph, the panel featured soccer historian Chuck Carlson, former player Raymond Pierre and community advocate Kareen Nunnally.
Carlson discussed artwork by curator Erlin A. Geffard depicting pivotal moments in Haitian soccer history, including Emmanuel “Manno” Sanon’s famous goal against Italy during the 1974 World Cup and Haiti’s women’s national team qualifying for the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
According to Carlson, the exhibit demonstrates that “soccer is a game truly for everyone.”
Pierre reflected on his experiences playing soccer in Haiti and Chicago, describing the sport as a lifelong source of discipline and personal growth: “Soccer is my life. Soccer is my discipline,” he said.
Nunnally spoke about the legacy of her father, Edner Franck, a longtime Chicago soccer organizer who founded championship-winning youth teams and helped create opportunities for generations of young players. Through soccer, she said, he built lasting bonds of friendship, discipline and community.
Audience discussion later turned to FIFA’s decision to reject a World Cup jersey design featuring Haitian revolutionary leader Toussaint Louverture. The debate highlighted a broader theme of the evening: Haiti’s soccer achievements have often emerged despite political and social challenges.
Yet speakers emphasized that national pride remains strong. Recalling Haiti’s 1974 World Cup appearance, attendee Nadia André remembered schools closing so families could stay home to watch the matches.
As the evening concluded, guests lingered to discuss the artwork and share memories, celebrating not only Haiti’s soccer history but also the resilience and unity that continue to define its communities at home and abroad.
The Echoes of Glory exhibit is on display through July 17 in the HAMOC office at 4654 N. Racine Ave., but the museum itself is at its new location, 4623 N. Clark St, which is free and open to the public on Wednesday through Sunday. They hold regular events in person and online that you can follow on social media or through their website hamoc.org.