Les Grenadiers · The Grenadiers

Following Haiti Across America

Haiti's 2nd World Cup, first since 1974 — when Manno Sanon's iconic goal vs Italy in Munich made him the first Haitian to score at a World Cup. 52 years later, Les Grenadiers return — qualifying via the CONCACAF intercontinental playoff route. Drawn into Group C with Brazil, Morocco, and Scotland. The route runs Boston Stadium Boston for the Scotland opener, then Lincoln Financial Philadelphia for Brazil, then Mercedes-Benz Atlanta for the Morocco decider. The squad blends MLS, Ligue 2, Belgian-league and diaspora dual-nationals: Frantzdy Pierrot, Duckens Nazon, Derrick Etienne (Atlanta United — MLS), Steeven Saba, Carl Sainté, Bryan Alceus. Haitian fans need US B1/B2 visa. The diaspora is massive and concentrated: Miami's Little Haiti (350,000+), NYC Brooklyn-Flatbush (300,000+), Boston Mattapan (60,000+), Montréal (130,000+). Boston-area Haitian community will pack Gillette for the Scotland opener — 30 minutes from Mattapan.

🇭🇹 Haiti 🇧🇷 Brazil 🇲🇦 Morocco 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland Group C

Group Stage Schedule

East-Coast Run, Diaspora-Friendly

All three Haiti group matches are confirmed via FIFA. The route runs Boston → Philadelphia → Atlanta — perfect East Coast diaspora corridor. BOS → PHL is 1h 30min direct on JetBlue/American/Delta or 5h on Amtrak Acela; PHL → ATL is 2h 15min direct on Delta/American. Every match is on US soil. The Boston opener is steps from Mattapan; the Philadelphia match draws from West Philly's Haitian community; Atlanta has a smaller but engaged community in Stone Mountain.

Jun 14Sunday

12:00 PM ET
12:00 PM EST Haiti

Scotland vs Haiti

Boston Stadium · Foxborough (Boston), MA · The opener · Match 13

The historic return — and the dream draw. Haiti's first WC opener in 52 years, with the Tartan Army on one side and 60,000+ Boston-area Haitian-Americans on the other. Gillette has limited rail — MBTA Foxboro Pilot service runs special on match days from South Station; otherwise rideshare from Mattapan/Dorchester. Allow 3 hours pre-kickoff. Sunday lunchtime kickoff = 12 PM Sunday EST in Port-au-Prince — perfect at-home Sunday viewing.

Boston guide ↗ Gillette transit ↗ Boston hotels ↗ Boston fan zones ↗

Jun 19Friday

9:00 PM ET
9:00 PM EST Haiti

Brazil vs Haiti

Philadelphia Stadium · Philadelphia, PA · Match 36

The marquee group game — Brazil's golden generation vs Haiti's diaspora-built squad. Vinícius Jr, Endrick, Rodrygo, Bruno Guimarães vs Pierrot, Nazon, Etienne. The biggest mismatch on paper of Group C — but a once-in-a-generation TV event for Haitian-Americans. Lincoln Financial has SEPTA Broad Street Line to AT&T Station (1 stop from Pattison) — among the best transit in the WC. Allow 2.5 hours pre-kickoff. Friday late-evening kickoff = 9 PM Friday EST in Port-au-Prince — perfect Friday-night.

Philadelphia guide ↗ Lincoln Financial transit ↗ Philly hotels ↗ Philly fan zones ↗

Jun 24Wednesday

6:00 PM ET
6:00 PM EST Haiti

Haiti vs Morocco

Mercedes-Benz Stadium · Atlanta, GA · The Group C decider

The Group C decider — and Haiti's likeliest 3-points game. Morocco's 2022 semifinal squad (Hakimi, Ziyech, En-Nesyri) is still strong but Haiti's transitions and Pierrot's hold-up play could test their high line. Mercedes-Benz has MARTA Vine City and GWCC/CNN Center stations — 5 min walk to gates ($2.50 fare). Allow 2.5 hours pre-kickoff. Wednesday evening kickoff = 6 PM Wednesday EST in Port-au-Prince — perfect post-work primetime.

Atlanta guide ↗ Mercedes-Benz transit ↗ Atlanta hotels ↗ Atlanta fan zones ↗

Itinerary

The 14-Day East-Coast Diaspora Run

From the Scotland opener at Gillette to the Morocco decider at MBS Atlanta is 10 days, with two short hops: BOS → PHL (1h 30min) and PHL → ATL (2h 15min). Direct flights Port-au-Prince (PAP) → Miami on American (2h) and JFK on JetBlue (3h 30min). From PAP via MIA → BOS is the most efficient routing for the opener. Total elapsed home-to-home: ~14 days.

Jun 11
Thu

Tournament opens in Mexico City. Haitian fans tracking US B1/B2 visa approvals — Haiti is NOT in the US Visa Waiver Program. Wait times in 2026: 3-9 months from Port-au-Prince. Apply by Sep 2025 latest. Haitian-American dual nationals can use US passport directly.

Jun 12–13
Fri-Sat

Fly Haiti → Boston. Best routes: American Airlines PAP → MIA → BOS (5h, $400-$700 RT), JetBlue PAP → JFK → BOS (5h 30min), Sunrise Airways PAP → MIA + Delta to BOS. From Cap-Haïtien (CAP): domestic to PAP first. Total air time: 4-7h with one connection.

Jun 14
Sun

Scotland vs Haiti · Boston Stadium · 12 PM ET (12 PM EST Haiti). MBTA Foxboro Pilot from South Station ($10 RT, 90 min) or rideshare from Boston/Mattapan ($60-$90). Allow 3 hours pre-kickoff. Pre-match: Mattapan (Blue Hill Avenue) Haitian-American hub — Le Foyer Bakery, Restaurant Pikliz, Singh's Roti Shop. Post-match: depending on result, Mattapan, Dorchester, or downtown Boston.

Jun 15–18
Mon-Thu

4 days, Boston → Philadelphia. Fly JetBlue/American/Delta BOS → PHL (1h 30min, $150-$400 RT, hourly). Or Amtrak Acela (5h 30min, $150-$300 RT). Use the gap for some Northeast sightseeing — NYC is 2h between (NJ Transit cheap), Princeton, Cape May. Philly has 30,000+ Haitian-Americans concentrated in West Philly (Cobbs Creek).

Jun 19
Fri

Brazil vs Haiti · Philadelphia Stadium · 9 PM ET (9 PM EST Haiti). SEPTA Broad Street Line from City Hall to AT&T Station — 5 min walk to gates. Allow 2.5 hours pre-kickoff. Pre-match: South Philly's Italian Market or West Philly's Cedar Park (Haitian-American area). Post-match: depending on result, Center City for late drinks.

Jun 20–23
Sat-Tue

4 days, Philadelphia → Atlanta. Fly Delta/American PHL → ATL (2h 15min, $200-$450 RT, hourly). Use the gap for some Atlanta sightseeing — Stone Mountain, Centennial Olympic Park, The Battery (Truist Park area). Atlanta has a smaller but visible Haitian-American community concentrated in Stone Mountain / Decatur.

Jun 24
Wed

Haiti vs Morocco · Mercedes-Benz Stadium · 6 PM ET (6 PM EST Haiti). MARTA from anywhere downtown to Vine City or GWCC/CNN Center. Allow 2.5 hours pre-kickoff. Pre-match: Atlanta's Caribbean community in Stone Mountain (The Spoon, Caribbean Pot) or Centennial Olympic Park. Post-match: depending on result, Atlanta nightlife or home flight.

Jun 28 / Jul 1
Sun-Wed

If Haiti advance: Bracket-dependent — likely Atlanta/Houston/NYC for R32. Haiti would become only the second-ever Caribbean nation to advance past the group stage (after Cuba 1938). If they go out: Most fans head home via MIA or JFK with American/JetBlue connections. Haiti's only WC was 1974 (lost all 3 games to Italy/Poland/Argentina); 2026 is the chance for the historic redemption.

52 years later: Haiti's last World Cup was West Germany 1974, where Manno Sanon scored the first Haitian goal in WC history, equalising vs Italy in the 46th minute (1-1, before Italy won 3-1). The 2026 squad blends MLS, Belgian, French, and diaspora dual-nationals: Frantzdy Pierrot (CD Aves Portugal — striker), Duckens Nazon (Mexican club Aún), Derrick Etienne (Atlanta United — MLS), Steeven Saba (Le Mans, Ligue 2), Carl Sainté (Le Havre, Ligue 1), Bryan Alceus (Pisa, Serie B), Garven Metusala (Atlanta United 2 — MLS Next Pro), Ricardo Adé (Trinity Trotters), Jhon Pierre-Gabriel (Estrela da Amadora), Donald Guerrier (Ben Akerblom). Plus rising Haitian-American MLS prospects. Coach: Sébastien Migné (or recent appointment — verify); the federation has cycled coaches but the squad core is steady.

Supporter Culture & Watch Hubs

The Haitian-American Network

There are an estimated 1.1 million Haitian-Americans nationwide — among the largest Caribbean-American communities. The largest concentration is Miami's Little Haiti (350,000+) and surrounding North Miami / North Miami Beach. Plus NYC Brooklyn-Flatbush (300,000+), Boston Mattapan (60,000+), Montréal (130,000+). Smaller communities in Atlanta, Houston, Chicago, Philadelphia (West Philly), Newark. The Haitian diaspora is vibrantly multilingual — Haitian Creole, French, English, Spanish — and music-rooted (kompa, rara, vodou drums). Match-day will be electric in every host city.

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Miami — Little Haiti HQ

Little Haiti (NE 54th to 79th Streets) hosts the largest Haitian community outside Haiti — 350,000+ in greater Miami. Chef Creole, Tap Tap, Naomi's Garden, Le Petit Chef are institutions — griot, pikliz, soup joumou, and Haitian Creole TV. The Little Haiti Cultural Complex at NE 2nd Avenue hosts official watches. Toussaint L'Ouverture statue and the Caribbean Marketplace are diaspora landmarks. Match-day expect 50,000+ at LHCC for the Brazil match.

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NYC — Brooklyn Flatbush

Brooklyn (East Flatbush, Crown Heights, Canarsie) hosts 300,000+ Haitian-Americans. Caribbean Bakery, A&A Bake & Doubles, Allan's Bakery, Madiba Restaurant (Fort Greene) show match-day TV. The Haitian Centers Council in Crown Heights coordinates watches. NU Restaurant (Brooklyn), The Caribbean Marketplace (Bushwick) are diaspora hubs. Match-day at Eastern Parkway during the Brazil match will be a street festival.

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Boston Mattapan, Montréal

Boston (Mattapan — Blue Hill Avenue): 60,000+ Haitian-Americans, the densest Northeast community. Le Foyer Bakery, Restaurant Pikliz, Caribbean Touch are institutions. The Haitian Multi-Service Center coordinates watches. Montréal (Montréal-Nord, Saint-Léonard): 130,000+ Haitian-Canadians, the heart of Francophone Caribbean North America. Marché Saint-Léonard, Restaurant Cap-Haïtien show every Haiti match.

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Les Grenadiers & supporter culture

"Les Grenadiers" ("The Grenadiers") — official nickname after the Haitian Revolution-era infantry; the Haitian flag bears this same heritage. The supporter group "Mouvement Grenadier" coordinates fan trips with strong Miami/Brooklyn/Boston/Montréal chapters. Match-day expect kompa rhythms (the national music genre), rara percussion (Vodou-rooted), the iconic "Ayiti! Ayiti!" chant, and the unique blue-red-blue Haitian flag with the central crest.

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Haitian broadcast in the US

For non-attended matches: Télé Haïti, RTNH, RJR-94 FM share Haiti's domestic World Cup rights — accessible in the US via VPN. BVN Haïti via IPTV. Telemundo for Spanish, Fox/FS1 for English. Miami and Brooklyn Haitian restaurants run Télé Haïti via satellite IPTV; expect overflow crowds at every match.

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Time-zone analysis

Haiti time (EST, UTC-5, no DST in summer 2026 — same as US Eastern). Scotland match: 12 PM Sunday EST (perfect Sunday-lunch viewing — entire country watches). Brazil match: 9 PM Friday EST (perfect Friday-night). Morocco match: 6 PM Wednesday EST (perfect post-work primetime). All three matches in absolute Haitian primetime — among the cleanest schedules of any team.

For Haitian Fans Specifically

The Practical Stuff

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US B1/B2 Visa

Haitian passport-holders need a US B1/B2 visa from the US Embassy in Port-au-Prince. Wait times 3-9 months in 2026. Haiti is NOT in the US Visa Waiver Program. Haitian-American dual nationals (~1M+) use US passport directly. Apply by Sep 2025 at the latest if no current visa. Full visa guide.

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Phone & data

Haitian carriers (Digicel HT, Natcom) charge HTG 200-500/day for US roaming. An eSIM is much cheaper — Airalo US plans start at $9. eSIM setup guide.

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Currency

HTG/USD rates: $1 ≈ HTG 132. Most Haitian businesses accept USD directly. Use Wise, Revolut, or any Visa/Mastercard. Tipping: 18-22% mandatory in US — much higher than Haiti's optional 10%.

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Weather

Boston in mid-June: 20-28°C, humid afternoons. Philadelphia: 22-30°C, humid. Atlanta: 22-31°C, humid. All slightly cooler than Port-au-Prince's 27-32°C tropical year-round. Pack lightweight, breathable fabrics.

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Routing from Haiti

Direct: American Airlines PAP → MIA (2h, daily), JetBlue PAP → JFK (3h 30min, daily), Spirit Airlines PAP → FLL. From Cap-Haïtien (CAP): American CAP → MIA. Most fans will route via MIA → BOS for the Scotland opener — the cheapest connection.

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Plugs

Haiti uses Type A/B (US-style 2-pin) plugs — same as the US. No adapter needed. Voltage: US 120V, Haiti 110V — virtually identical.