Haiti football gets gov’t support for World Cup push

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (CMC):

THE HAITIAN Football Federation (FHF) has received a boost of 100 million gourdes [US$764, 000] from the government to support the preparation and participation of its national teams.

The FHF received the timely donation on Monday during a ceremony at the Prime Minister’s Office.

Present at the ceremony were Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, Minister of Youth and Sports Niola Lynn Sarah Octavius, Minister of Economy and Finance Alfred Fils Métellus, along with under-17 men’s coach Eddy César and other senior government officials.

The prime minister said he was heartened to see the under-17 team qualify for the Qatar 2025 World Cup.

“You will bring to Qatar the dream of a people who believe in you. The flag you will fly is not just a symbol. It is the soul of Haiti.

“Every step on the field will be a step for the dignity, unity, and greatness of our nation,” Fils-Aimé said.

The prime minister maintained that supporting youth and sports remains a sacred duty of the Haitian state and that the entire population would stand behind their Grenadiers as they seek to promote Haiti beyond its borders.

In her speech, Octavius reaffirmed the government’s determination to continuously support Haitian sport, describing it as “a true lever of unity, discipline, and national pride”.

Gally Amazan, a member of the FHF, welcomed the historic gesture by the Haitian government, calling it tangible proof of its commitment to the development of football and youth as part of the recently signed three-year partnership.

The financial support will enable the FHF to partially finance the budgets necessary for the organisation and support of the year’s major international events, including the under-17 national team, which qualified for the final phase of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup; the senior men’s national team, which is scheduled to compete in the final phase of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers; and the senior women’s national team, which is competing in the preliminary round of the Concacaf W Championship.