Well before Haiti’s opening match against Scotland, a major parade was organized in the city at the initiative of several young supporters of the national team. Held on Friday, June 12—the day before the first match—the event brought together thousands of citizens dressed in national team jerseys and carrying flags, handkerchiefs, and scarves in Haiti’s blue and red colors.

According to Gonaïves Mayor Gina Jeanty, the parade is a long-standing tradition in the city during major sporting competitions such as the World Cup and the Copa América. While organizers had previously celebrated teams such as Brazil and Argentina, this year all attention was focused on Haiti’s national team as it returned to the World Cup for the first time in 52 years.