Jamaica, Haiti Women’s Soccer Squads Make History At FIFA World Cup

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. July 24, 2023: Both the Jamaican and Haitian women’s soccer teams made history this weekend as the women’s FIFA World Cup soccer competition got underway.

Jamaica

In a remarkable display of resilience and determination, Jamaica’s women’s football team, the Reggae Girlz, earned their first-ever point in Women’s World Cup history with a hard-fought 0-0 draw in their first match on Sunday July 23rd against the highly favored France.

Having previously appeared in the World Cup in France four years ago, Jamaica experienced a disappointing campaign, losing all three games. However, in the 2023 tournament, they immediately surpassed their previous efforts with a battling performance.

Led by the immensely talented Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, Jamaica put up a spirited fight against one of the top contenders in the tournament, showcasing their determination to succeed on the world stage. The match in Sydney witnessed Jamaica, ranked 43rd in the world, securing their first-ever World Cup clean sheet.

As the game neared its conclusion, Shaw received a second yellow card and was sent off, leaving Jamaica to defend with ten players against the French onslaught. Despite the absence of their star player, the Reggae Girlz showed tremendous courage and composure, successfully preserving the historic draw.

For France, ranked fifth in the world, the result represents a missed opportunity, as they were unable to convert their dominance into goals. The team’s wastefulness in front of the goal prevented them from claiming all three points.

This draw also puts a dent in France’s hopes of topping Group F, as they now face a tougher challenge to secure the top position with Brazil still to play. The Girlz will face Panama on July 29th and then Brazil on August 2nd. See how they celebrated yesterday.

Deneisha Blackwood #14 of Team Jamaica celebrates with team mates during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group F match between France and Jamaica at Sydney Football Stadium on July 23, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Gao Meng/VCG via Getty Images)

Deneisha Blackwood of Jamaica celebrates after the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group F match between France and Jamaica at Sydney Football Stadium on July 23, 2023 in Sydney / Gadigal, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Deneisha Blackwood #14 of Team Jamaica reacts during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group F match between France and Jamaica at Sydney Football Stadium on July 23, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Gao Meng/VCG via Getty Images)

Solai Washington of Jamaica celebrates after the scoreless draw in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group F match between France and Jamaica at Sydney Football Stadium on July 23, 2023 in Sydney / Gadigal, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

HAITI

In an exhilarating showdown, Haiti’s women’s football team made their debut in the Women’s World Cup, facing England in a hard-fought match that ended in a 1-0 victory for England on July 22nd.

But despite the loss, Les Grenadières showcased their extraordinary talent and determination, earning widespread praise and respect from fans worldwide, both Haitian and non-Haitian.

The match saw Georgia Stanway score England’s lone goal through a penalty kick in the 29th minute. Haiti’s valiant efforts to find the net, including two glorious opportunities from counter attacks, unfortunately did not result in a goal. The team took seven shots, with two on target, while England fired 21 shots, 11 of which were on goal.

Chloe Kelly of England is tackled by Dayana Pierre-Louis of Haiti during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group D match between England and Haiti at Brisbane Stadium on July 22, 2023 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Kethna Louis of Haiti in action during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group D match between England and Haiti at Brisbane Stadium on July 22, 2023 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)

Haiti’s goalkeeper, Kerly Theus, emerged as one of the standout performers, making an impressive 10 saves to keep her team in contention. Star player Melchie “Corventina” Dumornay also displayed her skills, providing a crucial pass to Roselord Borgella, who narrowly missed scoring.

Despite facing some unfortunate injuries during the match, the Haitian team displayed unwavering resilience and determination, fighting till the end. As they look ahead to their upcoming games against China and Denmark, Les Grenadières will aim to secure a spot in the knockout stage by finishing in the top two spots in their group.