The 2018 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in France is a competition that will long be remembered by football fans in Haiti. The tournament marked the first time that Haiti competed in a Women’s World Cup at any level.
It was also the first Caribbean nation ever to qualify for a Women’s World Cup following its third-place finish at the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship. So even despite defeats in three matches in France, Haiti has proved that it belongs on the world’s biggest stage. “Obviously, it’s disappointing to lose,” said Haiti FW Melchie Dumonay to FIFA.com. “You play to win. But we set out to defend well and we showed the world that we could do it.” Bolstered by a boisterous fan base, Haiti was broadly defeated by China 2-1 in its opening match that saw Nerilia Mondesir make history as Haiti’s first goal-scorer at a Women’s World Cup when she converted a 78th minute penalty.
That was followed by two other defeat, 1-0 to Nigeria and 3-2 against Germany in which the Haiti attack created a number of chances but was unable to capitalize.
Nevertheless, the performances have been incredibly impressive, especially when one considers that just one player, Mondesir, plays under a professional contract at a club (Montpellier of France).