Haiti doesn’t have a dog in the fight – it is only at 73rd place in FIFA’s world rankings – – and only ever participated in the World Cup once, in 1974, in Germany. But it appears to be approaching the month-long event (from June 12) rather in the spirit of a Caribbean carnival.

Football greats such as Messi and Ronaldo stare out from Port au Prince’s famously colourful and infamously chaotic tap taps (public taxis). Entire walls are daubed in team colours, flag-sellers hawk their wares and radio and television stations are promising to re-transmit all the matches.