More Than Just a Ticket to the World Cup
By Angie Gabeau Published November 25, 2025
On November 18th, 2025, Les Grenadiers officially punched their ticket to soccer’s biggest stage — marking Haiti’s return to the World Cup for the first time in over 50 years. While a difficult road is ahead, with the fiercest competitors to come, this game was not just a ticket to the World Cup. This night is a story about Haitian history, pride, and diaspora.
The crowd was a sea of red and blue — rara horns echoing, kones blasting, and chants of “Ayiti!” rising through the stadium air. You could not fathom the minimum 7-hour travel with no direct flights and hundreds to thousands of dollars it would take for Haitian natives to fill the stadium with Haitian songs, chants, cheers, and cries. Even in the face of devastation from Hurricane Melissa, relentless gang violence in Port-au-Prince, and the instability of a fractured government, Haitian fans still carried the spirit of the country with them — 500 miles from home. The team itself faced numerous obstacles to reach this moment at the Ergilio Hato Stadium. Les Grenadiers practiced in Barbados to escape violence and instability, and the coach himself had never set foot on Haitian soil, even at times leading the players remotely. In fact, only a few days before their World Cup campaign began, they had only 11 players on a 24-man roster. And yet they did the unthinkable.
This victory was powered by what sociologists call collective effervescence — a surge of shared hope, pride, and purpose. With nearly all players foreign-based and half of them second-generation Haitian, the Haitian spirit goes well beyond the borders of the country. While Haitians abroad have faced deportations and rejections at borders, termination of legal status and work authorization, and defamation by world leaders, this moment has also instilled a sense of pride and happiness. Although many Haitian fans won’t be able to attend the World Cup games due to travel bans in the U.S. or limited airports and flights in Haiti, the overflowing support will continue. In a world where Haitians are completely fragmented across the world with limited access to one another, these moments keep ties strong. Even in times when Haitians living in Port-au-Prince stay in their homes to avoid violence, on this day, they took to the streets in no fear to celebrate with one another.
Again, Les Grenadiers’ uphill battle is very far from over. However, the Battle of Vertières, 222 years ago on November 18th, 1803, was not the end of the Haitian revolution. Rather, it served as a sign of hope and motivation that the war would end, and Haiti would become the first Black republic of the world. On this same day that Haiti punched its ticket to the World Cup, Haitians in Cap-Haitien took to the streets “with music, prayers, and calls to justice” (Haitian Times) in celebration and remembrance of the Battle of Vertières. As the night came to an end, fireworks sparked in Vertières, celebrating both of the country’s victories harmoniously of what was once just dreams.
This is not just a breath of fresh air from Haiti’s hardships but a chance to turn this collective effervescence into collective action. This is not the time to momentarily forget the pain and suffering that Haiti has endured, but to remember that the struggles and sacrifices of today are shaping tomorrow’s victories. Through the streets of Haiti, fans cheer, “We have no state, Haiti qualifies!” This triumph is only one of many ways for the country to show the world who Haiti is; we will fight until we have won. While the Haitian Football Federation (Fédération Haïtienne de Football) has faced criticism that they have mirrored the disorganization of the Haitian government in the past, now, this ticket to the World Cup can be mirrored for a better Haiti.
Witnessing the unimaginable effort of Les Grenadiers to make Haiti proud, even though they can only play abroad in Curaçao, reminds me of the work IFSI does abroad every day. IFSI-USA is here improving the lives of immigrants in education, their careers, health, childcare, housing, music, the arts, and more. Every inch of progress — no matter the stage, arena, or location — is a step toward a stronger country and a brighter future. This historic qualification for the World Cup is a powerful reminder that the success of Haiti depends on the contributions of Haitians everywhere. November 18th is a reminder that Haiti once achieved the impossible in 1804 — and it remains possible today. For more than 50 years, Haiti has dreamed of reaching the World Cup. This victory shows that the long fight for peace, dignity, and stability will also be worth the wait.
