The password to access the Haitian Embassy in Washington could very well have been “Grenadye, Alaso!” this Friday, December 5, 2025. This slogan, always in fashion for any self-respecting Haitian, was shouted countless times during the exclusive reception celebrating Haiti’s historic qualification for the 2026 World Cup, hosted by Ambassador Lionel Delatour on the very day of the draw, which also took place in the U.S. capital with the participation of a Haitian delegation.

As usual, the Haitian Embassy in Washington brought together the elite of the DMV (DC-Maryland-Virginia): members of the diaspora, foreign partners concerned directly or indirectly with the Haitian cause, Haitian and international diplomats, current and former officials including the Minister of Culture Patrick Delatour, Ambassador Paul Altidor, and former Directors General of the National Police Normil Rameau and Frantz Elbé. But the true stars of the evening were the four national team players present for the occasion: Garven Metusala, Derrick Etienne Jr., Don Deedson Louicius, and Woobens Pacius; the national coach, Sébastien Migné; and the president of the Normalization Committee of the Haitian Football Federation (FHF), Monique André.