Haiti will host its Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal match against the United States in Miami on November 14, as ongoing security challenges prevent the national team from playing on home soil. The match is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at Nu Stadium, with the return leg taking place in Cincinnati.
Originally slated to occur in Jamaica, Haiti’s home matches have been relocated due to armed gangs controlling significant areas of Port-au-Prince, precluding access to their stadium. This move allows the Grenadiers to engage with their substantial fan base in South Florida, where they previously attracted a sold-out crowd earlier this year.
Monique André, President of the Haitian Football Federation, emphasized the importance of Miami as a venue, citing the strong and passionate Haitian community in the area. “Miami was a natural choice for us,” she told the Miami Herald. She expressed hope that the community would show strong support for the team, creating an atmosphere akin to a home game.
Concacaf confirmed on Thursday that the council approved an exceptional arrangement allowing Haiti to host designated home matches in the territory of an opposing association due to the ongoing security issues in the country. The Haitian Football Federation will need to seek specific authorization for each match from Concacaf, as well as agreement from the opposing member association.
This arrangement is part of an extraordinary year for Haitian soccer, marked by the national team’s qualification for the FIFA World Cup for only the second time, 52 years after its first appearance in 1974. André remarked on the national pride surrounding this achievement and how it unites Haitians at home and in the diaspora.
The decision to move the match follows a series of tensions related to Haiti’s regional games, including a controversial incident involving the Dominican Republic, where officials barred Haiti from using their stadium following remarks by player Wilson Isidor.
As the Grenadiers prepare for their match against the United States, the continued impact of Haiti’s security crisis raises questions about the future of international soccer in the country. The arrangement will remain under review by Concacaf and may be subject to change depending on the evolving situation in Haiti.
