Miami's Haitian Community Rallies to Celebrate Historic World Cup Qualification

MIAMI (AP) — On a rainy Saturday, the vibrant Haitian community in Miami gathered to support their national soccer team, celebrating its qualification for the World Cup for the first time in 52 years. Fans crowded around a stage to cheer for players like forward Duckens Nazon and defender Martin Experience, who are set to participate in upcoming friendly matches.

For several hours, the struggles facing their homeland faded as they united in a spirit of joy. “We will show that we are united, no matter what,” Nazon expressed in Creole, standing proudly before a large Haitian flag in honor of Haitian Heritage Month, which takes place every May in the U.S. He added, “I want for this World Cup to be the beginning of a new Haiti.”

Since achieving this historic milestone, the players have pledged to embody hope for a nation grappling with ongoing crises. The excitement was palpable at a North Miami art museum, where many in the large Haitian diaspora danced to lively compas music, draped in their national flags while children played soccer nearby.

Odeline Paul, 49, reflected on the significance of the moment, stating, “At my age, I’ve listened and read about Haiti being in the World Cup in the 70s but never got a chance to see them play.” Although she cannot afford to attend the matches, she plans to join local watch parties, bringing her son to this event to instill a sense of cultural pride. “We are a people of resilience. It doesn’t matter how many times we fall,” she shared. “We always get up. And that’s my country.”

While the excitement of qualifying brings joy, it is set against a backdrop of serious challenges, including rampant violence and instability in Haiti, where armed gangs have taken control of much of the capital, Port-au-Prince. As a result, the team has had to play its World Cup qualifiers on the Dutch Caribbean island of Curaçao. Despite these difficulties, Guensine Ambo, a Miami resident for 35 years, found a silver lining in the team's achievement. “This is one of the things that is helping us to come together as a people,” she said. “We are on a high. And no matter win or lose, we are going to stay on this high because it took us 52 years to get here.”