From our particular correspondent in Boston,
We rediscovered the magic of the World Cup. Possibly even its essence. In the course of the evening, whereas the French had been busier watching Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs comeback attemptthis Haiti-Scotland reconciled us, partially, with a World Cup which was launched on probably not enjoyable bases, between Donald Trump’s discriminatory policy (we’ll come again to that), the exorbitant costs and the not-so-exciting matches.
Excited, truthfully, we weren’t that excited by this “shock”. However every little thing modified when he arrived, very lengthy earlier than kickoff, at Gillette stadium, the standard lair of the New England Patriots. A powerful human tide of Scottish and Haitian supporters. Of the electric blue jerseys for the Grenadiers and darkish blue or coral shirts (and kilts) for the Tartan Military in all places. All in an environment of frank camaraderie. It was nearly transferring.
If the Scots are used to large journeys, regardless of the precautions taken by the Scottish coach, Steve Clarke, who didn’t need his compatriots to wreck themselves by coming to the UNITED STATESwe didn’t anticipate there to be so many Haitians. “It has been fifty-two years (solely participation in 1974) since we final skilled a World Cup, after all we had been going to return in numbers,” gushed Patrice (39 years previous).
Spherical journey Montreal-Boston in the course of the day
Smiling from ear to ear, Grenadiers jersey on his again, our man determined, on a whim, to take the automotive from Montreal (Canada) and take his mom to go all the way down to Boston (round 500 km) to witness this historic second, which sadly led to a defeat (0-1). “My mom didn’t need to wait so lengthy earlier than seeing Haiti once more on the World Cup. It’s a supply of immense satisfaction, it’s a fantastic second for the entire nation,” he continues, unstoppable in relation to speaking about his nation, he who grew up in Canada, earlier than spending a number of years on the island, then returning to Montreal.
William got here from New Jersey to attend this match in opposition to Scotland. “There’s a big Haitian group within the jap United States and Canada (between 500,000 and 1 million folks), he assures us. We characterize those that stayed within the nation, it’s an injustice that they may not come. » Sure, as a result of though Haitians had been quite a few in Boston, none of them got here from their island. The fault of a call of Donald Trump to ban entry into the United States to people from several countries, including Haiti.
“While you manage a World Cup, you could authorize everybody, gamers, referees, supporters to return to your nation, in any other case, it isn’t known as a World Cup,” provides Cédric, who got here along with his girlfriend, whose dad and mom are Haitian. All folks in Haiti, even when it might appear difficult financially as a result of we stay a poor nation, ought to have the appropriate to return and help their crew. However we keep united. »
“Unity is energy”
« We’re a resilient folks, continues Patrice. It is vital to indicate the solidarity of our crew. It is a approach to additionally present Trump that Haitian supporters are there, that Haiti is there. We will take the house they’re attempting to remove from us. »
The Canadian-Haitian additionally takes the instance of jersey that the Grenadiers had to change at the last moment after a complaint from Fifa. The explanation: the worldwide physique thought-about that sure visuals, which aimed to have fun “the satisfaction, resilience and spirit of the Haitian folks”, in line with the gear producer Saeta, may “give rise to completely different interpretations”.
“It’s not the primary time,” continues Patrice. They performed with our jersey, however in the long run, it provides us extra publicity. Everyone seems to be speaking about it. I even noticed deputies in France (Antoine Léaument and Hadrien Clouet, LFI) who had been speaking about it. It additionally permits us to inform our story, we’re stronger than all that collectively. » Because the motto on the Haitian flag says, there’s energy in unity.
