On Monday, January 12, 2026, Lynn Octavius, the Minister of Youth and Sports, chaired a high-level strategic meeting dedicated to preparing Haiti's participation and representation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

This meeting brought together senior officials from the public administration, representatives of state institutions, and key players in the national sports movement, reflecting the government's strong commitment to ensuring a concerted, inclusive, and resolutely national approach to this event.

The discussions led to in-depth reflection on the strategies to be adopted to ensure a structured, coherent, and meaningful Haitian presence. The discussions focused in particular on the prospect of creating a National Commission tasked with developing a support plan for the Grenadiers' participation in this competition. This will allow, among other things, the definition of a clear governance framework, the promotion of cultural diplomacy as a means of international influence, and the mobilization of the Haitian diaspora around this unifying event.

Furthermore, significant attention was paid to strengthening social cohesion at the national level through the organization of sporting and cultural activities throughout the country, the establishment of initiatives to bring people together around matches, and other large-scale events.

Issues related to ticketing, match broadcasting, and the availability of official equipment were also discussed with the leaders of the Haitian Football Federation present at this meeting.

Following this working session, the participants agreed on the need to streamline processes, prioritize a sectoral and operational approach, and submit structured proposals and action plans as soon as possible. These contributions will be used to develop a single reference document, intended to serve as the national roadmap for Haiti's participation in the 2026 World Cup, meeting the aspirations of the Haitian people and reflecting the image of dignity, unity, and excellence that Haiti intends to project on the international stage.

IH/ iciHaiti