Scotland likely felt relieved to draw Haiti, a decided underdog, for their World Cup opener.

Yet, through sharp-eyed scouts and convincing agents, the strife-torn Caribbean nation is forming a team determined to upset Steve Clarke's Scotland when Group C action starts on 14 June.

The squad features Premier League talents of Haitian descent, such as Wolves' Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Sunderland's Wilson Isidor - and possibly ex-Celtic standout Odsonne Edouard.

Edouard netted 57 goals across 94 league appearances for Celtic from 2018 to 2021, contributing to back-to-back domestic trebles.

Currently with Lens in Ligue 1, the 28-year-old has featured for France's youth teams but lacks senior caps. With Haitian roots via his parents, recruiters are targeting him for the World Cup.

Success is far from certain, however, as persuading players to commit to a nation of ancestry - one they may never have visited - proves challenging.

"Edouard is a possibility, but the player is also French - he might be called up for France," Fifa agent Jerome Salbert, who collaborates with the Haiti FA on talent spotting and recruitment, told BBC Sport.

"His father is Haitian but he was raised in France. It is difficult for him to decide if he accepts, as he would prefer to play for France."

Haiti faces severe challenges beyond the pitch as well.

Since the devastating 2010 earthquake, armed gangs have clashed relentlessly with government forces, capturing much of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

This crisis has displaced over a million people and triggered acute food shortages.

On the football front, Haiti earned World Cup qualification without hosting any qualifiers at home.

Manager Sebastian Migne, a Frenchman, has never set foot in Haiti due to the extreme risks for outsiders.

Nevertheless, Salbert and the Haiti FA have persuaded notable players to join, drawn by the allure of the World Cup.

"The problems in Haiti don't really have anything to do with it - players refusing to represent countries happens a lot when they are based overseas," he said. "It is tough at first glance.

"Take the case of Wilson Isidor - he has Haitian roots. We must convince them to play with the heart. That helps with players; the football gives them hope amid the trauma their country faces and helps the team move forwards."

Salbert's agency operates from Paris, though he hails from Guadeloupe, a French overseas territory in the Caribbean.

This regional tie, combined with the demands of aiding a struggling nation like Haiti, motivated his involvement.

"I think football belongs to everyone, and their players have a lot of talent, also a lot of resilience," he said.

"They have a lot of skills, which I like. There are a lot of Haitian communities in Guadeloupe so I know a lot about the personalities."

Salbert started partnering with the Haitian FA in 2024 and suggested Migne, who brings World Cup know-how from his role as Cameroon assistant at Qatar 2022.

He now scouts globally for passport-eligible players - a task complicated by his inability to visit Haiti.

"I cannot travel in Haiti, so I use a scout who is in the Caribbean," Salbert says. "And also WyScout - a local scout spots a player in Haiti, I check the system then contact the player to sign with my agency and then suggest them to the coach.

"The inability to go there was the first question the coach asked, as he can't go there to scout. A lot of his job was online, but he is in touch with the people there.

"They hope to be back in Haiti after World Cup for a short event, I don't know if it is secure, but it may be possible for them to go home."

Despite a makeshift roster and home matches in nearby Curacao, Haiti has advanced to the men's World Cup for the first time since 1974.

On the significance of qualification for Haiti, Salbert noted: "There was a feeling of pride. It showed us how good football is in Haiti and shows that big sense of resilience.

"The players look at themselves and look at the World Cup as a chance to advance their careers. They know they will not have a second chance.

"No one expects anything from Haiti at the World Cup but I think Scotland, we can give them a surprise."