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On February 22, Haiti\u2019s women\u2019s soccer team defeated Chile with a 2-1 scoreline to qualify for their first-ever Women\u2019s World Cup. It wasn\u2019t an easy road for Haiti, both on the field and off. The country is going through a lot of turmoil, but qualifying for the World Cup was a joyous moment for both the country and the team.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n To qualify for the World Cup, Haiti, also known as Les Grenadi\u00e9res, had to play in a three-team playoff with Chile and Senegal. Haiti secured a 4-0 win over Senegal and then a gritty 2-1 win over Chile to punch their ticket. When the World Cup kicks off in July, Haiti will be in Group D along with England, Denmark, and China.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n Haiti was able to qualify for the playoff tournament by placing third in their group at the Concacaf W Championship. They secured a 3-0 win over Mexico during that tournament, securing them the spot to play for a World Cup slot.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Melchie Dumornay, also known by Corventina, was the hero in that playoff game against Chile. The 19-year-old scored both goals to send her country to their first World Cup.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n Additionally, a couple of players on the roster play college soccer in the United States<\/a>. Danielle \u00c9tienne is a midfielder at Fordham; Milan Pierre-Jerome plays midfield for the Maryland Terrapins; and Lara Larco is a keeper for Georgetown.<\/p>\n Overall, this Haitian team is super young, which makes it even more of an achievement to qualify for the World Cup against the greatest of the greats. The current roster doesn\u2019t have any players above the age of 30, with an average age of 22 and a half.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In 2020, the president of the Haitian Football Federation (FHF), Yves Jean-Bart, was given a lifetime ban from the sport by FIFA after the federation found him guilty of sexual abuse allegations against female players. Jean-Bart was the president from 2000-2020. He has since denied all the allegations, and on <\/span>March 1, 2023<\/span><\/a>, he announced that he was reclaiming his position as president of the soccer federation after his ban was overturned.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n In recent years the country of Haiti has struggled. In addition to the nation still recovering from the devastating earthquake in 2010 that had a catastrophic magnitude of 7.0, they have had to deal with many tragedies in recent years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The country faced a presidential assassination in 2021, a cholera outbreak, and another catastrophic earthquake hit. Haiti also faces rampant gang violence and widespread food and water shortage throughout, and they are currently experiencing a political crisis. Additionally, COVID-19 exacerbated Haiti\u2019s economic hardship.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Haitian women\u2019s national team was founded in 1979 and didn\u2019t qualify for any World Cup tournament from 1999 to 2019. Even though support for women\u2019s soccer<\/a> was few and far between, FHF began initiatives to improve youth national soccer<\/a> in the country and funds different expenses for the women\u2019s side.<\/p>\n Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n Despite the country and the women\u2019s team not having a ton of resources and through all the darkness, these players came together and made history. Les Grenadi\u00e9res are making their country proud.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It will be exciting for everyone to see Haiti take the World Cup stage for the first time this summer after an incredible journey to get there.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Featured image via @fhfhaiti<\/a> on Instagram<\/em><\/p>\n _<\/b><\/p>\n GIRLS SOCCER NETWORK: YOUR SOURCE FOR GIRLS SOCCER NEWS<\/b><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nThe Journey to World Cup Qualification<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Making History Amidst Turmoil in Haiti<\/strong><\/h2>\n