The United States government has issued a visa to Woodensky Pierre, the only member of Haiti's national soccer team residing in the Caribbean nation, enabling him to travel and compete in the upcoming World Cup, an official confirmed on Tuesday.
Visa Approval and Travel Plans
Pierre is scheduled to depart for Florida on Tuesday, according to Thecieux Jeanty, spokesperson for Haiti's soccer federation. "It was a great moment for him, a moment of happiness," Jeanty told the Associated Press.
His teammates arrived in Florida last week to begin preparations for the tournament. This marks Haiti's second appearance at the World Cup, with their previous qualification occurring over half a century ago.
Challenges Faced
While awaiting his visa, Pierre had been training with local players in an upscale area of Port-au-Prince. The team's usual stadium in Haiti's capital was deemed too dangerous due to security concerns, forcing Haiti to play its "home" World Cup qualifiers in Curaçao. Pierre hails from Cite Soleil, a coastal neighborhood plagued by chronic hunger and gang violence.
Upcoming Matches
Haiti is scheduled to play World Cup warmup matches against New Zealand on Tuesday and Peru on Friday. The team will open its World Cup campaign on June 13 in Foxborough, Massachusetts, against Scotland, followed by matches against five-time champion Brazil on June 19 in Philadelphia and Morocco on June 24 in Atlanta.
