‘I don’t care ... how much the ticket costs.’ World Cup draw excites Haitians in South Florida

Haiti, the soccer-loving Caribbean nation that has been besieged by gang violence and economic instability, learned on Friday which teams will be in its group for the 2026 World Cup.

It was a remarkable feat to make the field of 48 because Haiti, which will play in the World Cup for the first time since 1974, did not play a single qualifying match at home due to violence. Jubilant Haitian fans flooded the streets when the team qualified and remained joyful during Friday’s draw, which was held in Washington, D.C.

Haiti landed in Brazil’s group, along with Morocco and Scotland. Haitian fans have long admired the Brazilian team and fashion their play after the Brazilian fancy-passing style. There is a chance Haiti and/or Brazil could end up playing a match at Hard Rock Stadium because Group C will have one match assigned there. The full schedule with locations will be revealed on Saturday at noon.

“Wherever Haiti’s playing I’m going. I will be at all three matches. I don’t care where it is, how much the ticket costs,” said Andre Pierre, a former North Miami mayor who was among a small group at Da Cave Miami in North Miami watching the draw. As teams were being drawn, he and others were sizing up the competition. Switzerland, he predicted, will make it difficult for Canada. The watch party was hosted by Councilman Pierre Frantz Charles and was also broadcast to audiences in Haiti.

Rivaldy Frederique already feels conflicted.

A fan of both Haiti and Brazil, he walked out of Fritz & Franz Bierhaus in Coral Gables after learning his beloved teams were in the same group.

“It’s tough,” said Frederique, a 28-year-old Broward resident of Haitian descent.

“If we can beat Brazil, the country will change! The whole country will shut down. No exaggeration.”

Because Haiti has rarely made it to the World Cup, Frederique grew up supporting Brazil. Now, Haiti is in a challenging group alongside Brazil, Morocco and Scotland.

“I’m not worried about anybody but Brazil,” he said.

Haiti has emerged as an underdog that many international soccer fans are rooting for, which has been heartwarming to see, Frederique said.

“I think a lot of people in the country have been seeing what’s been going on in Haiti in the last few years,” he said. “To see some positivity, I think has really inspired a lot of people.”

This story was originally published December 5, 2025 at 10:15 PM.