‘What would have become of this child?’ Haiti heads to World Cup as violence kills dreams

Eleven-year-old Josué St. Vilus, in blue, was a goalkeeper for Olympique École de Football in Sarthe, Haiti who dreamed of one day defending the country’s red-and-blue national colors. He was killed on Saturday, May 16, 2026 when a stray bullet tore through his abdomen as his family tried to flee gang attacks. Courtesy of Patrice Millet

By Jacqueline Charles

For nearly two decades, soccer coach Patrice Millet has used the game to help children from some of Haiti’s poorest neighborhoods find refuge from their country’s upheavals.

Two of his former players, he says with pride, were recently named to Haiti’s Les Grenadiers men’s national squad headed to the 2026 FIFA World Cup: forward Don Deedson Louicius (Dallas FC) and midfielder Leverton Pierre (Vizela FC). A third alum, Roselord Borgella, plays for the women’s national team, Les Grenadiers, which has begun to make its mark.

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