Haiti's record scorer on Scotland link & escaping Iran
Haiti's record scorer Duckens Nazon has navigated a dramatic arc from helping Haiti qualify for their first World Cup since 1974 to fleeing conflict in Iran, where he plays for Esteghlal. The 32-year-old is Haiti's all-time top scorer with 44 goals in 78 caps, and his career has spanned 13 clubs across eight countries, including a six-month stint with St Mirren in 2019. With domestic football in Iran suspended by the fighting, Nazon has followed an individualized training plan as Haiti prepare for their World Cup opener against Scotland, in a group that also includes Brazil and Morocco. This match will mark the Caribbean nation's second finals appearance.
His evacuation from Iran was dramatic, with bombs reported within 100 metres and his life saved by a SIM card after a border ordeal with Azerbaijan. He was set to fly to Istanbul or Paris when safety orders forced him off the plane, a decision he says protected him while his wife and four children—Moroccan nationals by marriage—were safe in France. He slept at the Iran–Azerbaijan border for about 48 hours as internet access was cut; an eSIM helped him contact the French embassy, which helped secure his passport and passage to safety. Haiti now carries its World Cup hopes unlocked by Nazon’s extraordinary journey.
