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Despite the great challenges facing Haiti, national team coach Sebastien Migne believes that participation in the World Cup can serve as a source of hope and pride for the entire country.
Haiti has been drawn in a difficult group with Scotland, Brazil and Morocco, but the French coach chooses to see this as an opportunity.
" Of course it's a strong group. But if we look at it positively, we will be in the spotlight and that's a big reward for the boys ," said Migne.
Representation on the biggest stage of world football is considered a significant achievement not only for the players, but also for the Haitian people, who live football with passion.
Midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde recalls the atmosphere created by the team's historic qualification.
" When we qualified, the country was happy for a day or two. Maybe we can do that again ," he said.
However, the reality of Haiti remains difficult. Belegarde and coach Migne have an unusual thing in common: neither of them has ever visited the country they represent.
" It's impossible because it's too dangerous ," Migne said.
He said he usually lives in the countries where he works, but that is not possible in the case of Haiti. International flights to the country have been suspended, while the national stadium in Port-au-Prince has remained closed since February 2024.
The area around the stadium, like much of the capital, is controlled by criminal gangs. Violence, corruption, hunger and political instability have plagued the lives of the country's 12 million people.
However, football continues to remain a source of hope, especially for young people.
" Especially for young people growing up in Haiti under these circumstances, football gives them confidence ," said Belegarde.
Due to the security situation, Haiti has played its qualifying matches at home in Curacao, often in front of only a few hundred fans. A similar situation is expected at the World Cup, as many Haitians cannot travel to the United States due to visa restrictions and high travel costs.
Thus, most fans will watch Haiti's historic second appearance in a World Cup on television, after its debut in 1974.
Among the main names of the team are defender Joey Placid and striker Dakens Nazon, who has scored 44 goals in 78 matches with the national team. The team also includes goalkeeper Joshua Duverger, who plays for the German club Cosmos Koblenz.
Under Migne's leadership, the Haitian national team has gained more discipline, unity and self-confidence, recording an average of 1.83 points per game in 24 matches.
However, the 53-year-old coach remains realistic about the team's objectives.
" In a single match, anything can happen. We want to write a new chapter in history with these players ," he declared.
Haiti's history at the World Cup has not been easy. In their only previous appearance, in 1974 in West Germany, the team lost all three matches to Italy, Poland and Argentina, by a combined goal difference of 2-14.
However, Emanuel Sanon remains a legendary figure in Haitian football. With 100 appearances and 47 goals, he still holds the national record, while Dakens Nazon is only three goals away from this success.
Nazon himself has experienced dramatic moments on the road to the World Cup. The Esteghlal striker was in Iran when the US-Israeli airstrikes began.
" On the plane they told us to get off because the war had just started ," he recalls.
According to the footballer, a missile hit only about 100 meters from where he was. He then left by car and managed to exit Iran through Azerbaijan after a journey that lasted about 20 hours.
Despite everything, Nazon says that the Haitian national team will appear without complexes at the World Cup.
" We are not afraid of anyone. We are modest, but proud because we are Haitian ," he said.
The striker also has a personal goal for the most important tournament in world football.
" I want to score a goal in the World Cup. It doesn't matter against whom ," concluded Nazon.
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