As part of preparations for Haiti’s historic participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a delegation from the Embassy of Haiti in the United States, led by Ambassador Lionel Delatour, traveled to Boston.

The mission’s objective was to work with the Haitian community and those involved in organizing the event to foster structured participation from the diaspora and leverage this visibility to showcase different facets of the country. The visit took place with the active participation of the Consulate of Haiti in Boston.

Meetings with the diaspora allowed the delegation to meet with community leaders from various sectors, including academia, culture, business, and student communities, as well as former Haitian-American elected officials with strong networks at the state level and familiarity with mobilization mechanisms.

In parallel, the Ambassador met with the Governor of Massachusetts, Ms. Maura Healey, and with Ms. Michelle Wu, the Mayor of Boston, continuing discussions with local authorities. He emphasized and commended the importance of the Haitian diaspora in the state and the city, while expressing his hope that the first game played in Boston would take place in a spirit of warm welcome. Also present were Ms. Régine Étienne, Acting Consul General in Boston, and Ms. Ruthzee Louijeune, Boston City Councilor.

The Ambassador also spoke with several members of the community invited for the occasion, delivering a message of unity and calling on Haitians and their descendants to mobilize and give the Grenadiers a fitting welcome.

Ambassador Delatour had the opportunity to meet with members of the Boston 26 organizing committee, including Brian Bilello, a board member and also President of the New England Revolution, a professional soccer club in the Boston area, and Mike Loynd, President of the organization.

The Haitian delegation then held a working session with several officials involved in the tournament's preparation at the local level, including representatives in charge of security, transportation, FIFA, and cultural activities surrounding the matches, among others. These discussions allowed the Mission to share its expectations and to place Haitian realities and priorities at the heart of the discussions. The organization of an evening showcasing Haitian culture during the match between the New England Revolution and the Philadelphia Union, scheduled for May 9, 2026, was also mentioned.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46358-haiti-flash-2026-world-cup-haiti-knows-its-opponents.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46353-haiti-flash-fifa-world-cup-2026-d-day-draw-haiti-will-know-its-opponents.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-46251-icihaiti-2026-world-cup-tribute-to-the-grenadiersqualification.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46242-haiti-2026-world-cup-qualifiers-rain-of-congratulations-video.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46239-haiti-flash-haiti-has-qualified-for-the-2026-world-cup-video.html

IH/ BF/ iciHaiti