Haiti will fight for every blade of grass at World Cup, says captain

Haiti is among the eight teams making its World Cup debut at this year’s edition, the first to feature 32 teams.

Haiti players pose for a team group photo before the Women’s World Cup Playoff against Senegal. | Photo Credit: DAVID ROWLAND/REUTERS

Haiti will rely on team spirit and its battling qualities when it makes its first appearance at the upcoming Women’s World Cup, captain Nerilia Mondesir said.

Haiti booked its place at the July 20-Aug. 20 tournament in Australia and New Zealand via the final qualifying playoffs and will face European champions England, Asian champions China and Denmark in Group D.

It will be the first Haiti team to play in a senior World Cup since its men’s side competed at the 1974 edition in Germany.

Mondesir said the players were familiar with each other’s strengths and abilities, with many of them having played together at the Under-20 World Cup in 2018.

“If I have to pass to a team mate, I know who’s the quickest, or if I want to hold onto the ball, I know who’s the most technically sound. These little details make a huge difference when you’re playing at the top level,” Mondesir told FIFA+.

“Our greatest strength is our cohesiveness as a team. We trust in ourselves; we do everything together. Even when we lose, we fight for every blade of grass.

“We’re battlers. That’s probably our best quality. We battle to the end even when our opponents are stronger than us on paper.”

Haiti is among the eight teams making its World Cup debut at this year’s edition, the first to feature 32 teams.