The Ministry of Youth and Sports (MJSAC) organized an information session with the sports press earlier this week regarding the CONCACAF Stadium Guidelines for 2026-2027. This initiative aims to ensure Haiti has the necessary conditions to host international matches for its national football teams.

Approximately sixty journalists participated in the meeting, held at the Ministry's offices in Frères, in the presence of Minister Pythagore Dumas.

Belizaire Gabrie, Coordinator of the Studies and Programming Unit, presented key concepts related to project management to the journalists, such as the relationship between projects and budgets, the various stages of implementing public investment projects, and the role of the institutions involved. Particular attention was paid to the differences between a project announcement, a validated project, available funding, and the actual commencement of construction.

The session continued with the presentation of the CONCACAF Stadium Guidelines 2026-2027, which define the requirements that stadiums must meet to host international matches.

Haiti has been unable to host home games since the events of January 10, 2021, during the second leg of the national championship final between Violette AC and Arcahaie FC (https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32749-haiti-flash-scenes-of-rare-violence-in-park-saint-yves-at-least-2-dead-and-many-injured.html), a situation compounded by security concerns. The March 22, 2021 incident targeting the bus carrying the Belize national team to Haiti (https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33305-haiti-flash-belize-team-attacked-in-haiti-by-armed-individuals.html) led the Belize Football Association to request additional security guarantees from CONCACAF and FIFA.

The Haitian Football Federation (FHF) nevertheless wishes to allow national teams to return to their home stadiums. Park Saint-Victor in Cap-Haitien is being considered as an option, particularly due to its more favorable security situation compared to the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area.

However, several conditions must still be met before any approval can be granted, particularly those relating to the playing field, locker rooms, stands, bleachers, field lighting, stadium environment, etc. The availability of a few hospitals and hotels meeting the required standards is, for its part, an asset for the city of Cap-Haïtien.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33305-haiti-flash-belize-team-attacked-in-haiti-by-armed-individuals.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32749-haiti-flash-scenes-of-rare-violence-in-park-saint-yves-at-least-2-dead-and-many-injured.html

HL/ BF/ HaitiLibre