Haiti hoping to do their country proud and upset odds at World Cup

Haiti’s achievement in qualifying for the World Cup amid ongoing turmoil in the Caribbean nation is one of the most inspiring stories of this year’s tournament, and the team are now hoping to make a real impact in the United States as they prepare for their opening game.

Ranked 83rd in the world, Haiti face Scotland in Boston on Saturday in the country’s first match at a World Cup since 1974.

They are clear underdogs in a group also containing Brazil and Morocco, but the Grenadiers believe they can spring a surprise.

“I feel pride for the people of Haiti. We know people might have a bad image of our country, that it has lots of problems, but this will do the country, the people, my family so much good,” star midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde told AFP.

“This is like a big celebration for them, and we are all going to enjoy it.”