Haiti will face one of its longtime favorite soccer teams, Brazil, in the World Cup after being placed into the same group during the Dec. 5 draw in Washington, D.C. The other two teams in Group C that Les Grenadiers will face are Morocco and Scotland.
“It’s going to be a great moment and great exposure for all my players,” Haiti’s head coach Sébastien Migné told reporters after the draw.
Meanwhile, in Haiti, residents feel like it is a scenario they wouldn’t even dare dream of. But against all odds, it’s a reality they will witness: Haiti will play the five-time World Cup champions in the World Cup. Residents are beyond excited.
“The players will make history, they can tell their grandchildren about it,” said Otniel Despagne, a Port-au-Prince resident, about playing against soccer powerhouses in the group stage. “But soccerwise, as a Haitian fan who wants Haiti to perform well in the World Cup, this is not to our advantage.”
“When you’re playing against those teams the entire world is watching,” Despagne, 28, said. “It’s good because Haiti has a bad image, that would help us look better. But I wanted teams that are close to our level so we can get a point or why not all three points?”
Haitians are excited to watch their players square off against a team they grew up cheering for in June. In Haiti, you’re either a Brazil or Argentina supporter. However, most fans do not believe Les Grenadiers will pull off an upset against Brazil. But, they don’t want Haiti to back down to Seleção; they want the team to show what they are capable of, even if a victory seems out of reach.