In New York's Little Haiti neighborhood, 52-year-old Murielle Lodvil and her sister Barbara Albert watched Haiti's match against Morocco, marking the country's first World Cup goals in 52 years. Despite Haiti's elimination after losses to Scotland and Brazil, the occasion was monumental for fans.

Murielle bought tickets to the Brazil match as a birthday gift. 'That is why Haiti participating on this world stage was so special to me,' she said. The sense of pride was palpable at the UBS Arena in Elmont, where nearly 19,000 seats were filled with Haitian flags and jerseys.

However, not all supporters could attend. Maude Schwartz's niece was denied a US visa, reflecting travel restrictions imposed by the Trump administration. Even midfielder Woodensky Pierre struggled to join the team due to visa issues, arriving only 10 days before Haiti's opening match.

In Flatbush, restaurant owner Nadege Fleurimond opened her doors for fans priced out of the stadium. 'It was proof that we belong in rooms and stages people often count us out of,' she said, highlighting the immigrant experience and dual identity.

Source: www.aljazeera.com