16/06/2026
The Haitian embassy held a watch party Sunday morning (Taipei time) at its embassy in Tianmu, where dozens of Haitians in Taiwan rallied behind their national team in its first World Cup match since 1974 against Scotland, a 1-0 loss.
Ambassador Roudy Stanley Penn told CNA that although Haiti did not win the game, the gathering was a wonderful opportunity to come together and celebrate this historic moment.
"It was particularly meaningful because members of the Haitian community in Taiwan are spread across different cities and regions, making it relatively uncommon for everyone to meet in one place," he said.
"Beyond the match itself, the event served as an occasion to strengthen community ties, share our passion for Haitian football, and express our pride in seeing Haiti compete on the football world stage for a second time," he added.
Two of Taiwan's 12 formal diplomatic allies -- Haiti and Paraguay -- have made their return to the FIFA World Cup this year after lengthy absences and found support in Taiwan among embassy staff, expatriates, and even local government officials.