Ruptly
"A few days before the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026, the Haitian government launched the 'Haiti in the World' program to bring the soccer tournament closer to the most remote communities in the country by distributing audiovisual equipment, providing internet access, and enabling public spaces where the population can follow the national team's matches. During the delivery ceremony held at the Villa de Accueil in Port-au-Prince, the Minister of the Interior, Alix Didier Fils-Aime, and of Territorial Collectivities, Paul Antoine Bien-Aime, announced that the initiative aims to mobilize the population around the historic participation of the Grenadiers, who will compete in a World Cup for the first time since 1974, ending a 52-year absence from the top international soccer tournament. Haitian authorities indicated that the program aims to ensure that even rural communities with limited communication infrastructure can experience the World Cup. "Each communal section and each commune will receive a television, a generator, an internet subscription (...) When the Grenadiers step onto the field during the World Cup, it will not just be a soccer team (...) but an entire nation," said Alix Didier Fils-Aime, Prime Minister of Haiti. The equipment will be distributed in the 571 communal sections and 147 municipalities of Haiti to allow the broadcast of the national team's matches. According to the authorities, in addition to the audiovisual kits, giant screens will be installed in at least 16 public squares in different Haitian cities to create spaces for coexistence and recreation during the tournament. The expectation is also reflected among fans, who expressed their desire for the national team to achieve a historic performance during the tournament. "My wish is for Haiti to bring us the trophy. I would like that, for this next year 2027, we say that we had a good year with the World Cup in Haiti," said Evens Bissainthe, a Haitian citizen. Although the Grenadiers will face teams with a strong soccer tradition like Brazil, Scotland, and Morocco in the group stage, many supporters consider that simply qualifying already represents a victory for the country. In Group C, Haiti, ranked 83rd in the FIFA rankings, is considered the weakest in the group, with little chance of advancing past the group stage; however, the team led by Sebastien Migne defeated New Zealand, also qualified for the World Cup, with a resounding 4-0 in a preparatory friendly match on June 2."
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