When they got off the plane on Sunday, July 5 around 11:45 a.m. at Cap-Haïtien International Airport, Duckens Nazon, Josué Duverger, and Martin Expérience were greeted with applause from the staff, dozens of curious and admiring travelers, local authorities, and several prominent figures who came to welcome them.
When they got off the plane on Sunday, July 5 around 11:45 a.m. at Cap-Haïtien International Airport, Duckens Nazon, Josué Duverger, and Martin Expérience were welcomed with applause from employees, dozens of curious and admiring travelers, local authorities, and several personalities who came to greet them. The three Haitian internationals, visiting the country at the initiative of Sunrise Airways and Nomad Travel Consulting, were first received in the airport’s diplomatic lounge by representatives from Sunrise Airways, a government delegation, and the city’s mayor, Michel Saint-Croix. Their visit comes more than two weeks after the national team’s participation in the first round of the FIFA 2026 World Cup.
“Welcome to Cap-Haïtien. The stronghold of Haiti’s history. Where it all began. You are our champions,” said Michel Saint-Croix, highlighting the symbolic significance of this visit to the Christophean city.
The mayor also drew a parallel between Haiti’s historic qualification for the World Cup, achieved on November 18, 2025, and the Battle of Vertières, won on November 18, 1803, on Capois soil. According to him, this coincidence of dates gives a special meaning to the Grenadiers’ return to the North.For her part, the Minister of Tourism, Stéphanie Smith, welcomed the presence of the three players. “An entire nation is welcoming you with open arms. Welcome to Haiti. Thank you for proudly representing Haiti. You have thrilled millions of Haitians and reminded the whole world that our country is a land of resilience, talent, and hope,” she said.
The minister mentioned that she had received instructions from the Prime Minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, to give the three internationals an official welcome. According to her, their presence in Haiti shows that the country remains a destination to visit, explore, and discover. A representative from the airline Sunrise Airways presented welcome gifts to the internationals.Outside the airport, the welcome quickly took on the feel of a popular festival. Hundreds of fans, accompanied by a rara band and a brass band, had gathered to cheer for the three Grenadiers. Their first crowd splash of the day. All smiles, wearing sunglasses and light clothing, the three players, at the back of a pickup, accompanied by the crowd, made their way to the Cap-Haïtien town hall in the city center. They were received there by Mayor Saint-Croix, who handed them the keys to the city.
During their stay in the North, Duckens Nazon, Josué Duverger, and Martin Expérience are expected to visit several historical and heritage sites in the Cap-Haïtien region. They are then expected in Port-au-Prince on Tuesday, July 7, for a reception with government officials.On Wednesday, Josué Duverger and Martin Expérience will leave the country. Duckens Nazon will continue his stay, heading to the Far South, where he will visit Île à Vache, Bassin Bleu, Grotte Marie Jeanne, and Saut Mathurine. These three “travel buddies” are joining Woodensky Pierre and Danley Jacques in Haiti, who had arrived in the country a week earlier. This Monday, according to photos shared on social media, Woodensky Pierre joined his teammates Nazon, Expérience, and Duverger on their sightseeing trip.
