JUNE 13, 2026
Contact: media@haitianbridge.org,  Paige Censale, pcensale@haitianbridge.org

San Diego, CA— The Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) congratulates the Haitian National Football Team on its historic return to the FIFA World Cup, marking Haiti’s first appearance on football’s biggest stage in more than 52 years. Today’s opening match against Scotland represents a defining moment not only for Haitian sport, but for the Haitian people around the world.

At a time when Haiti continues to face significant humanitarian and security challenges, the national team’s achievement has become a powerful source of pride and unity, bringing together Haitians at home and across the global diaspora in celebration of a shared identity, resilience, and hope. From Port-au-Prince to Boston, Montreal, Miami, New York, Paris, and beyond, Haitians are standing together behind the Grenadiers.

HBA is also pleased to have advocated for the issuance of a U.S. visa for Haitian national team midfielder Woodensky Pierre, whose participation in the tournament ensures that one of Haiti’s homegrown football talents has the opportunity to represent his country on the world stage. Pierre’s arrival in the United States came after delays in securing travel documentation ahead of the tournament.

“Today is about more than football,” said Guerline Jozef, Executive Director of Haitian Bridge Alliance. “For millions of Haitians around the world, this World Cup appearance is a reminder of their resilience, talent, and enduring sense of national pride. The Haitian team has united our people across borders and generations, and we celebrate every player who has carried the flag onto the global stage.”

As Haiti takes the field against Scotland and other teams, HBA joins supporters around the world in celebrating this extraordinary achievement and wishing the Grenadiers success throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

ABOUT HAITIAN BRIDGE ALLIANCE

Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA), also known as “The Bridge”, is a grassroots community organization that advocates for fair and humane immigration policies, foreign policy, and provides migrants and immigrants with humanitarian, legal, and social services, with a particular focus on Black migrants, the Haitian community, women and girls, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and survivors of torture and other human rights abuses. HBA also seeks to elevate the issues unique to Black migrants and builds solidarity and collective movement toward policy change. Anpil men chay pa lou (“Many hands make the load light”). Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @haitianbridge