In a city ruled by gangs, Haiti finds relief in World Cup glory

PORT-AU-PRINCE--Haiti’s national team has reached the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1974, a rare moment of collective joy for a country living through one of the worst security and humanitarian crises in its modern history.

Haiti has been gripped by escalating gang violence, with armed groups controlling large parts of the capital, carrying out kidnappings, blocking roads, and repeatedly disrupting access to the main international airport and key ports. Thousands have been killed or displaced in recent years, basic services have broken down in many neighborhoods, and large sections of the population face hunger and chronic insecurity.

Against that backdrop, the 2–0 victory over Nicaragua on Tuesday night felt larger than a sporting result. Two first-half goals secured Haiti’s place at the 2026 World Cup, and for a few hours the country’s focus shifted from gunfire and roadblocks to flags, jerseys and the blue and red of the national team.

In streets that are usually deserted after dark, crowds gathered to watch the match on television sets powered by generators, radios balanced on balconies, and phones held aloft. As the final whistle blew, supporters flooded narrow lanes and main roads alike, singing, dancing and chanting “Grenadye, alaso,” the rallying cry of the Grenadiers, despite the rain and the risks that usually keep them indoors.

The date carried extra symbolic weight. The win came on the anniversary of the Battle of Vertières, the decisive 1803 victory that paved the way for Haiti to become the world’s first Black republic. Many Haitians framed the qualification as another hard-won triumph in the face of overwhelming odds.

Those odds extended onto the field as well. Because of the security situation at home, Haiti played its “home” qualifiers in Curaçao, far from the noise of Port-au-Prince and other cities. Travel in and out of Haiti has often been impossible, and coaching staff have at times had to manage players remotely when the capital’s airport was shut.

Yet the team held together through the disruption, and the players’ resilience resonated with a population used to finding ways to survive without reliable electricity, safe transport or functioning institutions. For many fans, the qualification felt like proof that Haiti can still succeed on a global stage, even while the country struggles to restore order and rebuild public confidence at home.

As celebrations rolled on into Wednesday, conversations in bars, marketplaces and shelters returned quickly to everyday concerns: security, food, schools, and the search for political stability. But the World Cup ticket has given Haitians something rare to hold on to, a shared success that cuts across neighborhoods and loyalties, and a reminder that even in a time of deep crisis, the country is still capable of extraordinary achievement.

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