When Haiti step onto the pitch to face Brazil at the FIFA World Cup 2026, the occasion will carry a weight that goes far beyond football. It is a meeting steeped in history, identity, and complicated loyalty — and for many Haitians, their hearts may not be with their own national side.

Haiti's World Cup campaign began with a defeat to Scotland in their opening group match, leaving them in urgent need of points. A match against Brazil — the most celebrated team in the tournament's history — represents the sternest possible test.

A nation divided in its allegiances

Journalist Pierre Richard Midy, speaking to BBC World Service's More than the Score, explains that the history of football in Haiti is deeply intertwined with Brazil's. That connection runs so deep that a significant portion of the Haitian public supports Brazil more passionately than their own national team.

Central to that bond is the legacy of Pelé, who became a revered figure in Haiti — a footballing icon whose influence shaped generations of fans and players in the country.

Duckens Nazon, Haiti's record scorer, is well aware of the challenge his team faces off the pitch as much as on it. He has spoken about his hope that a strong performance — perhaps even a historic result — could win round Haiti's Brazil supporters and unite the country behind Les Grenadiers.

Watching the World Cup in difficult conditions

For many people in Haiti, simply watching the tournament is a challenge in itself. Electricity supplies across the country remain severely limited, forcing fans to go to considerable lengths just to follow the matches.

Midy also raises a broader point: that football, however uplifting, cannot address the gang violence that continues to devastate communities across Haiti.