Overview:
Haiti’s Ministry of Tradition has launched a nationwide singing contest to generate assist for Les Grenadiers forward of their historic look within the 2026 FIFA World Cup. When Haiti’s nationwide soccer staff faces Scotland in Boston on June 13, it is going to mark the nation’s second World Cup participation— the primary in 52 years.
CAP-HAÏTIEN — Haiti’s Ministry of Tradition and Communication (MCC) has launched a nationwide singing contest to rally assist for Les Grenadiers forward of their historic return to the FIFA World Cup — the nation’s first look in 52 years.
The winner will obtain 1 million gourdes or about $8,000, in keeping with the ministry’s announcement on March 31.
Open to novice {and professional} artists alike, the competition invitations individuals to submit authentic songs in Haitian Creole underneath the theme “Ayiti Alaso,” a variation of the nationwide staff’s well-known rally cry “Grenadye Alaso,” that means “Warriors, let’s go” — rooted in Haiti’s revolutionary period.
Submissions should not exceed one minute and are due by April 15 at midnight. Haitians residing each within the nation and within the diaspora are eligible to take part. The Prime Minister’s Workplace will fund the prize, the ministry stated on its site.
Officers haven’t but detailed how entries might be evaluated. The ministry didn’t reply to requests for remark from The Haitian Occasions.
Cultural momentum round historic qualification for return to the worldwide stage
The competition builds on a wave of cultural expression following Haiti’s qualification for the 2026 match, with musicians shortly releasing songs celebrating the milestone.
Among the many hottest are “Alaso,” a collaboration between DJ Tonymix and J-Perry, and “Grenadye Alaso Nou Refèl Ankò” by legendary band Orchestre Tropicana d’Haïti. Each tracks, launched in January, have gained traction amongst followers in Haiti and overseas.
Whereas such songs have energized supporters, the government-backed contest marks the primary large-scale initiative to channel that enthusiasm right into a nationwide marketing campaign.
Haiti secured its place within the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Nov. 18 with a 2-0 victory over Nicaragua at Ergilio Hato Stadium in Curaçao — ending a 52-year absence from the world’s largest soccer match.
The expanded 2026 World Cup, hosted by america, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, will characteristic extra groups (48) than earlier editions (32), providing nations like Haiti a uncommon alternative to compete on the worldwide stage.
Les Grenadiers have been drawn into Group C, the place they’ll face Scotland on June 13, Brazil on June 19 and Morocco on June 24 — a difficult lineup that underscores the dimensions of the duty forward.
Nonetheless, the staff’s qualification has sparked satisfaction throughout Haiti and its diaspora, with cultural initiatives such because the singing contest aiming to unify supporters and increase morale forward of the match.
As anticipation builds, the competitors displays how deeply soccer and music intersect in Haitian tradition — turning a long-awaited sporting second right into a nationwide celebration.