Overview:
Residents expressed both pride and frustration after Haiti’s U-17 national team lost its first match 4–1 to Egypt at the FIFA U-17 World Cup. With four players from the northern city on the roster, many fans remain optimistic as the team faces England.
CAP-HAÏTIEN — Haiti’s under-17 national team suffered a heavy 8-1 defeat to England on Nov.7 in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, yet fans in the northern city of Cap-Haïtien said they remain firmly behind Les Grenadiers expressing pride in the young squad’s global debut and hope for better days ahead. Their reaction captured after the opening 4-1 loss to Egypt earlier this week show both disappointment and pride in seeing local player represent Haiti on the World stage.
On Nov. 4, dozens of fans gathered inside a small Paryaj Pam betting office on Street 20H to watch the opening game. When the final whistle blew, silence filled the room. Some fans left quietly; others stared at the screen — disappointed but not discouraged.
“I don’t know if every Haitian feels this, but every time we participate in a competition, it’s always like this,” Kenley Amius, who played on the under-17 team almost 10 years ago, told The Haitian Times.
“It doesn’t make me feel good at all. We’re frustrated with how the game was played.”
Still, many fans said they felt proud seeing players from their own city compete on the world stage. Four members of the squad — Ricthie Valcourt, Dave Bernard, Alcime Arthur and Woodson Félix — play for local club Real Hope Football Academy.
“Seeing boys I used to train with playing at the World Cup gives me pride,” said Loubentz Saint-Yllus, a 23-year-old midfielder for Ideal F.C. “Dave was my teammate — I haven’t reached that level yet, but I’m happy to see them there.”
Paryaj Pam’s office is located on Street 20H in Cap-Haïtien, where some soccer fans watched Haiti battle Egypt in the FIFA U-17 World Cup on November 4, 2025. Photo by Onz Chéry/ The Haitian Times.
Haiti’s standout performer wasn’t from the North but from Port-au-Prince — goalkeeper Clifford Géné, who plays in Jamaica for Mount Pleasant F.A. The 16-year-old made nine saves against Egypt and drew praise online for keeping the score from getting worse.
After the opening loss, head coach Éddy César tried to lift the team’s spirits, reminding players the tournament wasn’t over yet.
“Nobody put their head down,” César told his players on the bus. “Forget the loss, learn from it, and show a stronger side against England. The mission remains the same.”
Haiti, has never won a FIFA World Cup match. With two straight losses to open their campaign, Haiti’s chances of advancing to the knockout rounds are slim but not yet mathematically over. The team must win its next match by a strong margin and hope results go its way to keep alive their World Cup hopes.
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