Les Grenadiers Touch Down in Atlantic City for Historic World Cup Return
Haiti's national soccer team arrived at Atlantic City airport on Monday evening, beginning their preparations for the country's first FIFA World Cup appearance in more than half a century. The squad, known as Les Grenadiers, have taken up residence at the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center, with the hotel dressed in the team's national colors, while training sessions are scheduled at nearby Stockton University.
The buildup to a major football tournament draws attention from across the sporting world, whether from fans tracking every development, analysts breaking down tactical setups, or even casual observers who follow everything from the beautiful game to the bookmaker tennistavolo markets that sit alongside football in the global sports landscape. For the Haitian community in Atlantic City and beyond, however, the focus is singular and deeply personal: a nation returning to the world's biggest stage after decades away.
Haiti's only previous World Cup appearance came in 1974 in West Germany, making this tournament a generational moment for a football-loving country that has never lacked passion for the game despite limited resources and persistent structural challenges at federation level. The excitement is not confined to the squad itself - it radiates through the Haitian diaspora along the Eastern Seaboard, with Atlantic City now sitting at the center of that story.
A Taste of Home on the Road
Ensuring the players feel grounded during their camp, the Haitian team reached out to Jackie Jean, owner of local Creole restaurant Gouté Creole, to provide authentic meals throughout their stay. Jean, who grew up playing football in Haiti before settling in Atlantic City, did not hide the weight of the moment. "It's overwhelming. Excitement is not the word for this moment," he said.
Jean has already begun preparing a menu of traditional Haitian dishes including griot, oxtails, joumou and rice and beans. Of the pumpkin soup that carries deep cultural significance in Haiti, he noted simply: "This one all Haitians know about is dil joumou." The full menu is still being finalized, but the intent is clear - to give Les Grenadiers a connection to home while they go about the serious business of preparing for the tournament.
Jean has also secured a ticket for Haiti's group-stage fixture against Brazil in Philadelphia, a match that carries obvious emotional charge. "I played soccer all my life as a youth myself and to see it, living it and knowing my country is going to the World Cup here in Atlantic City is joy," he said. He expressed hope that some of the players might visit his restaurant in person during the camp. "That would be incredible. I would love for one of them or the whole team - we would be really happy about it."
A Local Connection in the Squad
The link between this Haitian squad and the region is not only communal but sporting. Midfielder Danley Jean Jaque, who plays his club football for the Philadelphia Union in MLS, is part of the Haitian setup and will represent his homeland in the tournament. His presence gives local fans a recognizable figure to follow and adds a Philadelphia-area dimension to Haiti's campaign.
For a national program that has historically operated with modest means compared to the sport's major powers, reaching this World Cup represents genuine achievement. The players arriving in Atlantic City on Monday evening carry not just the hopes of a squad, but the pride of a diaspora community that found its own small piece of the tournament on the Jersey Shore.
