Q&A with ‘Chokarella’ founder Carel Pedre on Haiti’s World Cup pride and debates

Haiti’s return to the World Cup has sparked excitement, debate and reflection among supporters around the world. For many fans, it will be the country’s first appearance at the tournament in their lifetime.

The Haitian Times spoke with Carel Pedre, the media entrepreneur behind Chokarella and Grenadiers2026.com, about what he is hearing from fans, the emotional messages being shared with players and the questions dividing Haitian group chats ahead of the tournament.

The Haitian Times: You talk to Haitians every day through your platforms. How would you describe the mood of the community heading into the World Cup?

Carel Pedre: The mood is a mix of pride, excitement, and disbelief. For many Haitians, this is something they never thought they would witness in their lifetime. We have an entire generation that grew up hearing stories about 1974 but never experienced a World Cup with Haiti participating. Beyond football, people see this as a rare opportunity to celebrate something positive together and show another side of Haiti to the world.

THT: You’ve built Grenadiers2026.com to bring fans together around Haiti’s World Cup journey. What’s been the most surprising response from supporters so far?

Pedre: The most surprising thing has been the fan wall. We have received and approved nearly 1200 messages from supporters, and they come from everywhere, places I did not expect. But it is the emotional depth that surprised me. People are not just writing “Allez les Grenadiers.” They are writing to the players like family. They mention parents and grandparents who did not live to see this day. Some messages read like letters. We have been turning them into video episodes so the players themselves can feel what this means to the diaspora. I built the site to inform fans. The fans turned it into something closer to a love letter.

THT: Many Haitians are weighing the cost of attending. What’s your advice to someone trying to decide whether making the trip is worth it?

Pedre: Everyone’s financial situation is different, and nobody should put themselves in hardship for a football match. That said, if attending is realistically within your means, this is one of those moments that may never come around again. Fifty-two years passed between Haiti’s last World Cup appearance and this one. Long after the final whistle, people will remember being there when history was made.

THT: What’s the World Cup debate currently dividing Haitian group chats?

Pedre: There are actually two major debates right now. The first is whether people should spend the money to travel and attend the matches or experience the tournament from home. Given the costs of flights, hotels, and tickets, it’s a significant decision for many families.

The second is the ongoing discussion surrounding Haiti’s World Cup jersey and FIFA’s recent decision regarding the design. Supporters have strong opinions about what the jersey should represent, how Haiti’s history and identity should be reflected, and whether the final outcome lived up to expectations. It’s become one of the most passionate conversations among fans, alongside debates about how far this team can go in the tournament.

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