US grants Haiti star Woodensky Pierre visa for World Cup campaign
Haitian footballer Woodensky Pierre has secured a United States visa from the Trump administration, allowing the nation’s only home-based player to travel to Florida this week for the upcoming World Cup.
Thecieux Jeanty, a spokesperson for the Caribbean nation’s football federation, confirmed the midfielder’s scheduled departure on Tuesday.
His participation had previously been in serious doubt due to expanding travel restrictions imposed on several countries by the American government.
“It was a great moment for him, a moment of happiness.”
Thecieux Jeanty, Haiti soccer federation spokesperson
Historic return to the global stage
The rest of the national squad arrived in America last week to begin preparations for only their second appearance at the prestigious tournament.
It has been more than half a century since the island nation last qualified for football’s biggest international competition.
While awaiting clearance, the Cite Soleil native was forced to maintain his fitness by training with local clubs in an upscale district of Port-au-Prince.
Rampant gang violence in the capital had previously rendered the team’s primary stadium too dangerous to use, forcing them to host home qualifiers in nearby Curaçao.
Tough tests await in the United States
The squad will conclude their warmup schedule with a pair of friendly matches against New Zealand and Peru over the coming days.
Their competitive campaign officially begins on 13 June when they face Scotland in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
A daunting encounter against five-time champions Brazil follows in Philadelphia on 19 June, before a final group-stage clash with Morocco in Atlanta.
The underdogs will be hoping to defy the odds this summer and secure one of the 32 available places in the knockout rounds.