W
hen England play Haiti in their opening game of the Women’s World Cup on Saturday, it will be a collision of disparate realities, of the sort that major tournaments these days rarely throw up. England are the European champions and one of the favourites to win the trophy. Haiti are not only the fourth-lowest ranked team at the tournament, they also represent one of the poorest and most unstable countries in the world.
Another difference: while all but three of Sarina Wiegman’s players are based in England, Haiti are a diaspora team. Several of the squad are the children of emigrants, and though many of the players were born in Haiti and some started their football careers there, of the 23 who will represent Les
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