Woodensky Pierre, the sole member of Haiti's national soccer team still residing in the troubled Caribbean nation, is anxiously awaiting a U.S. visa to join his teammates in Florida, just weeks before the World Cup kicks off.
Player Profile
The defensive midfielder plays for Violette AC in Port-au-Prince, where an estimated 70% of the city is under siege by violent gangs. The other 25 squad members ply their trade abroad, in leagues across England, France, Portugal, Canada, and the United States.
Historic World Cup Appearance
This year marks only Haiti's second World Cup appearance, the first being in 1974. Thecieux Jeanty, spokesman for the Haitian soccer federation, noted that in 1974, all but one player were based in Haiti—a stark contrast to today's reality.
Visa Delays
The U.S. visas for Pierre and nearly a dozen federation officials remain pending amid expanded travel restrictions under the Trump administration. Pierre continues training on a synthetic grass field in Pétion-Ville, an upscale area of Port-au-Prince, hoping to rejoin his team soon.
“I hope he doesn’t have to live in Haiti after the World Cup,” Jeanty said. “It’s an opportunity to present himself to the world and await a contract.”
Security Concerns
The team's home stadium, near Pierre's neighborhood, was deemed too dangerous, forcing Haiti to play qualifiers in Curaçao. Pierre hails from Cite Soleil, a seaside slum plagued by violence and hunger, where recent gang attacks have displaced over 5,300 people, per the U.N.'s International Organization for Migration.
“It’s a source of pride for him,” Jeanty added. “It’s satisfying for officials and the public, too. As you know, Haiti is in crisis.”
Preparation Schedule
Haiti's squad officials arrived in Florida on Sunday, with players starting training in Port St. Lucie on Tuesday. Three more players are expected Wednesday. Haiti has warmup matches against New Zealand on Tuesday and Peru on June 5 in South Florida.
The World Cup opener is June 13 against Scotland in Foxborough, Massachusetts, followed by matches against Brazil on June 19 in Philadelphia and Morocco on June 24 in Atlanta.
Jeanty first contacted Pierre in 2022 during an under-20 trip to Honduras. “I saw him as a top-level player,” he said. “Everybody’s very happy to have him on the team. There is soccer in Haiti. It’s a country that wants to live.”
