The new 16-team format for Copa America Centenario in the United States in 2016 brought opportunity to Haiti as a qualifying nation in CONCACAF. Le Rouge et Blue have never been touted for their soccer department over the history of organized competition, but with a chance to compete in this summer's Copa America, the Haitians will really be tested on how they measure up with the best of the rest in the Americans.
Haiti made it to the quarterfinals and nearly advanced past Jamaica in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, and, after beating Trinidad & Tobago by a 1-0 margin in January, qualified for this year's centennial edition of Copa festivities.
Neveu: Haiti Here For A Reason
For those doubting Patrice Neveu's side, the French coach has a message for you: "If Haiti is here, it is not by accident."
Neveu attended Sunday night's Official Draw in Manhattan, which saw Haiti sealed into Group B of the group stage along with Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru. Following the ceremony, Neveu told VAVEL about his side's approach to the intense Copa America competition.
"Everybody thinks that we are the smallest team competing, but I do not think so, I really don’t think so," the manager stated. "The objective over the tournament is to do the best. Give the most every game and get the best result possible even against the bigger teams."
Match Slate
With matches against three of the top teams in CONMEBOL in terms of success and prestige, the road will not be easy if Haiti are to contend in their group, and they will most likely have to rely on other results in the heavily-contested rivalry matches to be played within Group B.
The first fixture is with Peru on June 4th at CenturyLink Field in the Emerald City, home to Seattle Sounders FC and the NFL's Seattle Seahawks. It may be Haiti's chance to right off the bat make an impact and surprise Los Incas with an upset bid.
Brazil will be next up for Les Grenadieres four days later in Orlando, where they'll try to dethrone a Neymar-led opposition at the Citrus Bowl. It'll be a shock if Haiti can even force a draw to share the stage with the Canaries.
Last up is Ecuador, a flashy side who have bolted ahead of South American competition in 2018 World Cup Qualifiers thus far, winning each of their games up to this point. That match will be played in the same stadium as the Copa America Centenario final, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Overall, points throughout any of these gained by Haiti will be a success in the minds of hardly-informed spectators, but internally, Neveu and his team are coming to the States to take care of business.