Woodensky Pierre secures US visa as Haiti assemble full squad before World Cup | OneFootball

Haiti’s World Cup squad is finally complete after Woodensky Pierre secured a US visa and linked up with the group on Tuesday. According to L'Équipe, his arrival means every call-up is now in camp.

The 21-year-old defensive midfielder, the only squad member based on the island with Violette Athletic Club, arrived late after the final whistle and greeted his team-mates on the pitch.

Earlier in Fort Lauderdale, the Grenadiers swept past New Zealand 4-0 in their first warm-up at Chase Stadium, backed by a large expatriate crowd. Haiti are the only qualifiers who played no home fixtures because of security conditions.

Head coach Sébastien Migné said it felt like playing at home, and noted they could not stage a game in Haiti in March or late May after a cancelled trip. He said he wanted fans to feel the positive atmosphere and share key moments.

He said the squad has been built on healthy competition and that he now has plenty of options.

Migné said on Monday that Pierre had finally obtained entry clearance to the United States, the last hurdle to joining up. Doubt had lingered after recent Trump administration announcements about barring Haitian supporters from the World Cup, but that has been lifted.

FIFA’s 82nd-ranked nation face Peru in Miami in their final friendly on Saturday night. In Group C they meet Scotland, Brazil and Morocco, having last appeared in 1974 in West Germany.

Source: L'Équipe