World Cup 2026: Haiti fans feel excluded from first tournament since 1974

Haiti is set to play Scotland on June 13 in Foxborough near Boston, then face Brazil on June 19 in Philadelphia and Morocco on June 24 in Atlanta. Many Haitians in Massachusetts, home to about 87,000 people, are unable to attend because tickets and travel are too expensive. An informal survey during Haiti Flag Day found no one with a match ticket. Community leaders have sought low-cost or free community tickets but faced repeated barriers. Single tickets for the Scotland match were listed at $2,100. Parking at the Foxborough stadium is $150 with limited capacity, and nearby satellite lots cost at least $50. Round-trip train tickets from Boston’s South Station cost $80, with additional walking required.

"Haiti were drawn in Group C, will play Scotland on June 13 in Foxborough, near Boston. They then face Brazil on June 19 in Philadelphia and Morocco on June 24 in Atlanta. Haitians are looking forward to their national team's first World Cup appearance since 1974, but high prices for tickets and transport, plus a travel ban, are preventing many from attending the games."

"But tickets are very, very expensive and, unfortunately, we cannot afford it. The state of Massachusetts is home to one of the largest Haitian populations in the US about 87,000, according to government figures. But as Haitians celebrated Les Grenadiers' impending arrival during the fifth annual Haiti Flag Day at Boston City Hall on May 15, an informal survey failed to find anyone with a ticket to a match."

"For a long time, my office have been advocating for community tickets at a low cost or no cost, and we have just hit walls every time, Haitian-American Boston City Councillor Ruthzee Louijeune told Al Jazeera. I know there are Haitian people that are going, that have purchased tickets at face value, or whatever price is going on online, but it is cost-prohibitive for a number of people in our community."

"Single tickets for the game against Scotland were listed at $2,100 on FIFA's website on May 13. Parking will cost $150 at the 68,000-capacity stadium in Foxborough and will be limited to 7,500 cars, with satellite lots a mile to two miles (1.6km to 3.2km) away costing a minimum of $50. The Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority is charging $80 for round-trip train tickets from Boston's South Station, a 48km (30-mile) ride followed by a half-mile walk each way."

Read at www.aljazeera.com