The U.S. government has finally issued a visa to Haitian national soccer team member Wodinsky Pierre to travel and participate. FIFA World Cup 2026 after days of uncertainty regarding their participation in the tournament. Pierre is the only domestic player on Haiti’s national soccer team and there were fears he would be excluded from the tournament as US President Donald Trump’s administration extended travel restrictions on the countries, with Haiti among the countries subject to visa restrictions. While the other 25 members of the squad are based abroad and have already been granted visas for the World Cup. However, Pierre has now been cleared to travel to America and the crucial clearance allows the young midfielder to join his teammates in Florida for the upcoming World Cup.Haiti’s soccer federation spokesman Theseu Genty confirmed to the media that Perry boarded a flight to Florida on Tuesday so he could immediately connect with the national camp.“It was a great moment for him, a happy moment,” Janette told the press. Supporters gathered around Perry as he arrived at the airport in Port-au-Prince on Tuesday. Airport workers tried to take pictures with him, while his mother hugged him several times before he left for the marquee event.Also in the crowd was ecstatic fan Guy-Ernest Philippe, who hugged Pierre and proudly said, “We couldn’t be more proud… I’m touching history right now.”Pierre’s journey to the sport’s biggest stage has been quite remarkable. The defensive midfielder, who plays for Haitian club Violet AC, hails from Site Soleil, a seaside neighborhood that has long struggled with hunger, homicides and gang violence. It is located in western Port-au-Prince, whose gangs occupy about 70 percent of the capital.Pierre had been training with local players in an advanced area of Port-au-Prince as he waited for a visa. The team’s stadium in the Haitian capital was deemed too dangerous due to security concerns and they were forced to play their home World Cup qualifiers more than 1,000 kilometers away in the North American country of Courao.Pierre’s teammates arrived in Florida last week to begin preparations for the World Cup. This is only the second time the country has qualified for the World Cup, with their only previous appearance coming more than half a century ago in 1974. Haiti will open their World Cup campaign against Scotland on June 13 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. They will then take on heavyweights and five-time world champions Brazil in Philadelphia on June 19, before finishing their group fixture against Morocco in Atlanta on June 24. Travel to the World Cup remains uncertain for Haitian fans as travel restrictions and visa restrictions prevent most ordinary supporters from attending matches.
