Amidst criminal hell, Haitian football rises at the World Cup

Haiti created one of the most inspiring stories of World Cup qualifying when they booked their ticket to North America in the summer of 2026.

Haiti convincingly qualified for the World Cup.

Defeating Nicaragua 2-0 in the CONCACAF World Cup 2026 qualifiers on the morning of November 19, Haiti officially won a ticket to the most prestigious national tournament. But behind that proud achievement is a journey full of obstacles and difficulties.

Since July 2021, the Haiti national team has been forced to play international matches on neutral grounds. The reason comes from the serious instability in the country, especially after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021.

After the shocking incident, gang violence broke out violently, covering most of Haiti's territory. The capital Port-au-Prince was controlled by armed groups up to 85%, causing all sports activities to be suspended and unable to take place normally.

By March 2024, Haiti’s national stadium was under gang control, denying the team any chance of returning to play at home. Amidst the chaos and risk, Haiti’s players fought on, traveling to neutral venues and playing every game as the away team.

Haitian people celebrate their ticket to the 2026 World Cup in the capital Port-au-Prince. Photo: Reuters .

And then the miracle happened. With impressive form and tenacity, Haiti qualified for the World Cup after 51 years of waiting. This achievement is not only important in terms of sport, but also a great source of spiritual motivation for the Haitian people, who are going through one of the most difficult periods in their country's history.

Haiti’s participation in the 2026 World Cup is not only a success on the field, but also a victory of will, faith and resilience. From a country in crisis, with rampant crime, Haiti stepped onto the world’s biggest stage with a convincing performance.

Neymar's failed ball-handling attempt embarrassed him. Neymar tried to hand the ball over Palmeiras defenders twice but failed both times in the Brazilian National Championship match on November 16.

Source: https://znews.vn/giua-dia-nguc-toi-pham-bong-da-haiti-troi-day-o-world-cup-post1604051.html