Aridou Benoit, Haiti's U15 number 10, gets a hero's welcome in Jacmel

Aridou Benoit returned home to Jacmel on Friday, 6 November 2026. A crowd filled the city's streets to greet the number 10 of Haiti's under-15 team, back from the U15 World Cup Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan.

With 5 goals and 3 assists, the young attacking midfielder was one of the standout players of Haiti's run, according to Haiti-Tempo. His youth club, the Jacmel Académie de Football (JAF), welcomed him back on social media: "Nou kontan wè w" ("We're happy to see you").

Ten matches

The tournament, a first edition, brought together teams from 189 countries from 24 to 30 October. Haiti finished 61st, the best Caribbean nation, with six wins in ten matches, 25 goals scored and 13 conceded.

Aridou Benoit scored a penalty in the 3-1 loss to Australia and was decisive in the 6-0 win over Timor-Leste. Against Israel, he scored a standout goal in a 4-2 victory.

A Jacmel product

The JAF, nicknamed "the Lions of the City", trains young players in the South-East. Benoit's return, a Haitian flag on his shoulders, turned into a celebration for the whole city.