Haiti fans pack, electrify Nu Stadium, but team loses 2-1 after late Peru rally
The official start of the 2026 World Cup is six days away in Mexico City, but for the Haitian fans who sold out and electrified Nu Stadium in Miami Friday night for a warmup match against Peru, their World Cup had already begun.
Many of the fans cannot travel to Boston, Philadelphia or Atlanta for Haiti’s World Cup matches, so this was their chance to see Les Grenadiers up close and wear their national colors with pride.
Although Haiti wound up losing 2-1 after a pair of late Peru goals, its fans never lost their spirit.
Haitians came from all over and turned Inter Miami’s 26,700-seat stadium into a sea of red and blue. There was no trace of pink or Lionel Messi on this night. This was Haiti’s night to celebrate its culture and beloved national team, which qualified for its first World Cup in 52 years and was coming off an emphatic 4-0 win over New Zealand in a friendly in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday.
That passion was on full display during their national anthem. As they sang in unison it was also a bittersweet moment as those who live inside the country realized that they were living a moment that currently remains out of reach to them inside their gang ridden capital where their stadium is located and the team last played its home game in June 2021.
They had plenty to cheer for once the game got started, too. The crowd went wild in the 16th minute when Wilson Isidor slotted it home on a perfect through pass from FC Dallas’ Louicious Deedson to give Haiti a 1-0 lead.
Les Grenadiers led at halftime after a gritty 45 minutes with many dangerous runs on the counterattack, and some late arriving fans were still pouring into the parking lots as the second half began.
They led through 80 minutes, but then Peru came alive with two goals in the span of three minutes. Renzo Garces scored the equalizer at the 81-minute mark and Jairo Velez scored the go-ahead goal three minutes later.
The small, but spirited, Peruvian fan group in the north stands banged its drums and waved flags, finally able to be part of the party.
The Peruvians erupted again a few minutes later when one of their players came close to scoring an own goal but was rescued by teammate Fabio Gruber, who sprinted into the box and made a spectacular clearance off the line just before the ball went in.
Among the Haitian fans in attendance were the editor-in-chief of the country’s oldest daily, Les Nouvelliste, Frantz Duval, who landed in Miami from Haiti on game day, and popular musicians Richard Cave and his cousin Alain Cavin.
Both flew in from New York.
“We have to support as much as we can,” said Richard Cave, who now enjoys a solo career after being part of one of the country’s most popular boy bands, Carimi.
As a musician whose career has depended on the support of fans, he said, he sees it as his duty to show up for the team.
“Nobody paid for us to come here today,” Cave said. “We had to come, and we had to support the same way that others supported us all these years.”
“Tonight we have everybody here, from Vodouism to Adventist to Protestants and Catholics,” he said.
In addition, there was a long list of artists from JPerry, who entertained the crowd during half time with comedian Tonton Bichon, to rapper Kodak Black.
Also, former Senator and longtime soccer commentator Patrice Dumont flew in from Port-au-Prince.
During the game, fans also chanted “Bwa Kale,” used in Haiti to punish suspected gang members, it was used during the game to call for a “beat down” of the opponent - all in good fun.
From konpa to roots to Raboday, Haitians danced and celebrated in the stands bringing their passion for the game home. The chanted “Ole! Ole! Ole” over and over, the sound of their voices echoing through the stands.
Haiti coach Sébastien Migné went with a starting lineup of Johny Placide, Ricardo Ade, Frantzdy Pierre, Martin Experience, Carlens Arcus, Jean-Jacques Danley, Jeanricner Bellegarde, Deedson, Ruben Providence, Hannes Delcroix and Isidor.
Haiti opens its World Cup campaign against Scotland in Boston on June 13, then plays Brazil June 19 in Philadelphia and Morocco June 24 in Atlanta.
This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 10:04 PM.