As part of its participation in the CONCACAF Men’s U-20 Championship, which will be held from July 19 to August 4, 2024 in the cities of Irapuato and Celaya in Mexico, the Haitian selection is gathering in Santiago de Querétaro for a two-week training camp, from July 3 to 17. However, this crucial preparation is not without challenges for the team and the Haitian Football Federation (FHF).

Logistics Challenges

Despite a carefully prepared plan by the FHF to facilitate the travel of all team members, players playing in the national championship and some staff members will not be able to travel to Mexico. This situation is the result of a series of obstacles facing the country, including:
1. Closure of some foreign embassies: This situation complicates obtaining the visas necessary to travel to Mexico.
2. Temporary shutdown of some airlines: This limits direct flight options from Haiti.
3. Transit constraints through the Dominican Republic: Transit through this so-called neighboring country represents an additional challenge in terms of logistics and security.

These difficulties prevented the Federation from finding a flight route for these members, jeopardizing the team’s optimal preparation.

A good performance is waiting despite the obstacles!

Despite these challenges, the Haitian team played its first friendly test match on Mexican soil. In a warm-up match, Haiti crushed Inter de Querétaro with an impressive score of 6 to 0. This victory underlines the quality and potential of the team, even in difficult times despite the size of the opponent.

The Final Selection

Coach Angelo Jean-Baptiste will soon announce the list of 26 players who will leave for the Querétaro training camp. Among them, 21 will be chosen for the final composition of the national team. This selection must be able to help the team during the CONCACAF championship. Already 24 players are settling in Mexico while waiting for the arrival of the last two little Grenadiers to complete the preparations.