Brazil and Haiti faced each other more than 20 years ago in a game that stopped the war
The Brazilian team returns to play in the World Cup this Friday (19) against Haiti, at 9:30 pm (Brasília time). The match valid for Group C, which also features Morocco and Scotland, repeats a memorable game between the two countries.
Brazil and Haiti maintain a historically close diplomatic relationship, evidenced by cooperation initiatives such as Brazilian participation in the United Nations Mission for the Stabilization of Haiti (MINUSTAH) and the holding of the friendly match that became known as the "Peace Game".
Brazil was at the forefront of the mission between 2004 and 2017, playing a central role in the country's stabilization efforts. The mission's work gained even more relevance after the 2010 earthquake, which caused a serious humanitarian crisis in Haiti.
In addition to contributing troops and emergency assistance to assist the population affected by the tragedy, the Brazilian government was the first to make financial contributions to the Haiti Reconstruction Fund, created to support the country's recovery.
Remember the context of the "Peace Game"
At the beginning of the operation, the presence of the Brazilian Armed Forces had as its main objective helping to restore order and security, in a context marked by the 2004 rebellion and political instability that culminated in the resignation of then president Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
The landmark episode of the partnership between the two countries occurred on August 18, 2004, when the Brazilian Football Team, then world champion, faced the Haitian National Team in a friendly match held at the Sylvio Cator Stadium, in Port-au-Prince.
Known as the "Peace Game", the event sought to encourage a disarmament campaign in the country, allowing the population to exchange weapons for tickets to watch the match.
With Carlos Alberto Parreira as coach, Brazil beat Haiti 6-0 with three goals from Ronaldinho Gaúcho, two from Roger Flores and one from Nilmar. The Brazilian team also played with names like Júlio César, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo Fenômeno and Adriano Imperador.
The reception from the Haitians was warm: thousands of people occupied the streets of the capital to watch the Brazilian players pass to the stadium.
The symbolic importance of the event was later portrayed in the documentary "The Day Brazil Was Here", released in 2005 and directed by Caíto Ortiz and João Dornelas.
22 years after the historic match, the countries face each other again and this time, in a World Cup.
A likely Amarelinha lineup, after drawing with Morocco in the 2026 World Cup opener, would have Danilo replacing Ibañez at right-back. Fabinho would enter the midfield in place of Casemiro, while Matheus Cunha would "steal" Igor Thiago's place in attack.
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Source: CNN