Haiti electrifies Atlanta, fans worldwide with two goals against Morocco

ATLANTA — Haitian fans at Atlanta Stadium turned up the volume Wednesday, creating the loudest roar Haiti has seen at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as Les Grenadiers closed their group-stage campaign with two dramatic goals 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.

That belief paid off early.

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.”

On TV screens and social media accounts worldwide, Haitian fans watching the broadcast and streams likewise danced, jumped, smiled and cried with each goal.

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.

At the half, the dream of a Grenadiers victory remained alive. Until it wasn’t.

Coming back from the break, Morocco surpassed the Grenadiers with two goals, bringing the final score 4-2 in their favor at the final whistle.

Les Grenadiers did not make history by breaking the cycle of consecutive losses after two World Cup appearances. Nonetheless, Haitians left Atlanta Stadium with their heads high, dancing and chanting “Ayiti, Ayiti, Ayiti!” 

And, vowing to see the team again in 2030.

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