Woodensky Pierre, the only Haiti World Cup player based in Port-au-Prince, is awaiting a U.S. visa to join the squad in Florida. Most teammates play abroad, while violence and gang control affect training at home. Haitian football officials are also waiting on visas amid expanded U.S. travel restrictions.
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-Sathish Raman
Haiti’s only World Cup squad member still living in the country, Woodensky Pierre, was waiting for a U.S. visa. Pierre needed the document to join the team in Florida before the tournament. The defensive midfielder played for Violette AC in Port-au-Prince. Officials said visa delays affected Pierre and nearly a dozen federation staff.
Woodensky Pierre, the only Haiti World Cup player based in Port-au-Prince, is awaiting a U.S. visa to join the squad in Florida. Most teammates play abroad, while violence and gang control affect training at home. Haitian football officials are also waiting on visas amid expanded U.S. travel restrictions.
Most of Haiti’s 26-player squad was already abroad in other leagues. Players came from England, France, Portugal, Canada and the United States. The U.S. visas had not arrived as President Donald Trump’s administration kept widening travel restrictions. Haitian officials said the situation left Pierre training at home while teammates prepared in Florida.
Haiti World Cup squad builds in Florida as visa delay continues
Jeanty said Pierre kept training in Pétion-Ville on a synthetic grass pitch. Pétion-Ville is an affluent part of Port-au-Prince. Jeanty spoke to The Associated Press by phone on Wednesday. “I hope he doesnt have to live in Haiti after the World Cup,\” Jeanty said. \”Its an opportunity to present himself to the world and await a contract.\”
Officials for Haiti’s squad reached Florida on Sunday, Jeanty said. Players then started training in Port St. Lucie on Tuesday. Jeanty said three other players were due to arrive on Wednesday. Jeanty said there was still time to fix Pierre’s visa issue. The team scheduled two warm-up matches in South Florida.
Haiti World Cup fixtures set, including Brazil match
Haiti was set to face New Zealand on Tuesday in a warm-up match. The second friendly was against Peru on June 5. Haiti opened World Cup play on June 13 in Foxborough, Massachusetts, against Scotland. The team then played five-time champion Brazil on June 19 in Philadelphia. Haiti’s final group match was against Morocco on June 24 in Atlanta.
Safety concerns also shaped Haiti’s route to the tournament. The national stadium in Port-au-Prince was judged too dangerous for qualifiers. That decision forced Haiti to stage home qualifying matches in Curaçao. Pierre’s club base was in Port-au-Prince, where an estimated 70% of the city was under violent gang control.
Haiti World Cup story links Pierre to Cite Soleil and past squad history
Pierre was from Cité Soleil, a coastal slum linked to long-running hunger and violence. The area was known as a base for powerful gang leaders. It has faced massacres and gang rapes. More than 5,300 people were recently displaced, according to the U.N.’s International Organization for Migration.
Jeanty said Pierre’s selection mattered to a public living through turmoil. \”Its a source of pride for him,\” Jeanty said. \”Its satisfying for soccer officials and for the public, too. As you know, Haiti is in crisis.\” Pierre did not respond to messages seeking comment. The team’s coach also did not reply.
The World Cup marked only Haiti’s second appearance at the tournament. The only earlier appearance was in 1974. Jeanty said most of that earlier squad was based in Haiti. \”There is soccer in Haiti,\” Jeanty said. \”Its a country that wants to live.\” Jeanty said Pierre was first noticed in 2022 during travel to Honduras.
With inputs from PTI
