PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — When Brazil scored its first goal of the 2010 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, a cheer went up that could be heard all over this earthquake-ravaged capital — and maybe all over the Caribbean.

Haiti, which is still digging out from the catastrophic Jan. 12 earthquake that killed about 250,000 people, did not qualify for the soccer competition in South Africa. But the Haitian people badly need a team to root for to lift their spirits, and most are cheering for the powerful Brazilians.

“Soccer, you know, it is in our blood,” said Lenzy Limage, 30, a former cell phone salesman who has been out of work since the earthquake.

He’s watching the World Cup on an old 17-inch TV standing on an upturned bucket in the crowded Champs de Mars refugee camp that holds more than 20,000 people in the center of the city. A piece of wire rising from the set is hooked to the rusted zinc roof of a nearby shack.

Limage said he hopes Haiti, which played its only World Cup in 1974, will qualify again.

“But given what has happened here, it may take a while,” he says. “My son is 6 years old. Maybe he will live that dream.”

Meanwhile, Limage said he will root for Brazil.

Nearby is Wilhem Genisca, 38, an English teacher at a private school that collapsed, leaving him temporarily unemployed.

“We are surrounded by the evidence of the earthquake,” Genisca said. “But the World Cup is at least momentarily resurrecting our people.”

Down the block, Rony Cadet, 25, watches the games with more fans in a small park that features an incomplete monument to Haiti’s 200th anniversary as an independent nation in 2004.

Cadet, an artist, stands with a rolled-up canvas over his shoulder.

“Business has been bad because so many people with money have left the country since the earthquake,” he says.

Around his neck, Cadet wears a light blue rosary, identifying himself as a fan of Argentina, the second most popular team among Haitians. Many are fans of Diego Maradona, once a World Cup star and now coach of the Argentine team.

“What we really need is jobs, development, education,” Cadet said. “But the World Cup is very good for us right now because it is helping us get rid of stress.”

Crossing the city, it is impossible to escape Haitians’ support for Brazil. Motorcycles and cars fly the yellow, green and blue flag. Men and women wear the bright yellow shirts of the Brazilian team.

Limage said he hopes Haiti, which played its only World Cup in 1974, will qualify again.

“But given what has happened here, it may take a while,” he says. “My son is 6 years old. Maybe he will live that dream.”

Meanwhile, Limage said he will root for Brazil.

Nearby is Wilhem Genisca, 38, an English teacher at a private school that collapsed, leaving him temporarily unemployed.

“We are surrounded by the evidence of the earthquake,” Genisca said. “But the World Cup is at least momentarily resurrecting our people.”

Down the block, Rony Cadet, 25, watches the games with more fans in a small park that features an incomplete monument to Haiti’s 200th anniversary as an independent nation in 2004.

Cadet, an artist, stands with a rolled-up canvas over his shoulder.

“Business has been bad because so many people with money have left the country since the earthquake,” he says.

Around his neck, Cadet wears a light blue rosary, identifying himself as a fan of Argentina, the second most popular team among Haitians. Many are fans of Diego Maradona, once a World Cup star and now coach of the Argentine team.

“What we really need is jobs, development, education,” Cadet said. “But the World Cup is very good for us right now because it is helping us get rid of stress.”

Crossing the city, it is impossible to escape Haitians’ support for Brazil. Motorcycles and cars fly the yellow, green and blue flag. Men and women wear the bright yellow shirts of the Brazilian team.

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COMMENT: HAITIAN-TRUTH.ORG
I can remember 1994 World Cup when Brazil defeated the USA.
The entire city of Port-au-Prince jumped off its foundations as the entire population roared their approval.
One can only visualize a situation in which Brazil and Haiti meet is some future World Cup.
Which would command our loyalty??