Haiti scored twice against Morocco in a thrilling first half of its final World Cup group-stage match, with fans in Atlanta turning the stadium into a sea of noise and pride.
ATLANTA — Haitian fans at Atlanta Stadium turned up the volume Wednesday, creating the loudest atmosphere Haiti has seen at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as Les Grenadiers closed their group-stage campaign in dramatic fashion against Morocco.
Hours before kickoff, supporters danced and sang alongside a rara band in the stands. By the opening whistle, the energy had transformed into relentless chants of “Haiti! Haiti! Haiti!” with every touch of the ball.
In the 11th minute, striker Lenny Joseph opened the scoring, tapping in a cross from Kervin Duverne to give Haiti a 1-0 lead. The goal sent the Haitian section into a frenzy, with fans erupting into Boukman Eksperyans’ carnival anthem “Ke m pa sote.”
For Joseph, the moment marked another milestone in a breakout season. After scoring 16 goals in club football last year, the young forward now etched his name into Haitian football history with his first international goal — and on the sport’s biggest stage.
Goalkeeper Johny Placide, playing what is expected to be his final match for Haiti, kept the lead alive with a series of crucial saves, including a double stop in the 30th minute that drew one of the loudest cheers of the night.
The fans kept pushing, chanting “Bwa kale! Bwa kale!” as Haiti pressed Morocco and held its shape against the tournament favorite.
Morocco equalized in the 39th minute through Achraf Hakimi, but Haiti answered almost immediately.
In the 44th minute, Wilson Isidor unleashed a powerful strike off another assist from Duverne to restore Haiti’s lead at 2-1.
The goal was historic: Isidor and Joseph now tie Emmanuel Sanon’s long-standing record of two World Cup goals for Haiti, a mark untouched since 1974.
But Morocco struck again before halftime, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to level the score at 2-2.
Four goals. Forty-five minutes. And a Haitian team still chasing its first-ever World Cup point.
Loading… Related Fritznel D. Octave fritznel@haitiantimes.com facebookxinstagramlinkedinbluesky Award-winning journalist and writer Fritznel D. Octave is a distinguished professional serving as Haiti Editor of The Haitian Times. His educational journey includes a bachelor’s degree in Social Communication from the Faculté des Sciences at the State University of Haiti, professional studies at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica, and the University of Oxford in England, UK, culminating in an MBA from Florida Atlantic University in the United States.
With nearly three decades of experience covering news about Haiti, his latest book "Haiti Between Pestilence And Hope" is a testament to his unwavering commitment to impactful storytelling and social journalism. The issues he tackles range widely from social justice and politics to the environment, healthcare, and economics. Beyond journalism, Fritznel specializes in business growth strategy and personal development.
