Overview:
Massachusetts has declared Could 26 Frantzdy Pierrot Day to honor the Haitian striker, whose soccer journey started in Haiti and continued within the state earlier than serving to Haiti qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Throughout a ceremony led by Governor Maura Healey, Pierrot—a local of Bas-Limbé who left his homeland at age 11—introduced the launch of the Frantzdy Pierrot Basis to assist join younger Haitian gamers with golf equipment and academies in Europe and the Americas.
NEW YORK — Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey declared Could 26 as Frantzdy Pierrot Day, honoring the Haitian striker— whose journey from enjoying barefoot in Haiti to competing on soccer’s largest stage helped encourage Haiti’s return to the FIFA World Cup after 52 years.
Pierrot, who moved to Massachusetts from Haiti at age 11, was acknowledged throughout a proclamation ceremony Tuesday on the State Home for his position in serving to Haiti qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“Standing right here tonight is a particular second for me,” Pierrot stated in the course of the ceremony. “I take into consideration the place my dream began.”
“Step-by-step, a dream that began barefoot in Haiti introduced me to the European Champions League and now to the most important stage on the planet,” he added earlier than an viewers largely composed of Haitian Individuals.
A pressure in Haiti’s assault, Pierrot delivered key objectives in World Cup qualifiers
The 31-year-old ahead performed a key position in Haiti’s qualification marketing campaign, recording two objectives and one help in 10 matches. His most decisive second got here Nov. 14, when he scored the profitable purpose towards Costa Rica in an important qualifier in Willemstad, Curaçao.
Pierrot redirected a low cross from winger Ruben Windfall previous Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas within the seventy fifth minute, serving to Les Grenadiers safe an important victory as Haiti pushed towards its first World Cup look since 1974.
The Bas-Limbé native is Haiti’s third all-time scorer, with 33 objectives in 49 worldwide appearances to this point, behind teammate Duckens Nazon, who has scored 44 in 80 matches, and the late legendary striker Emmanuel “Manno” Sanon, who scored 37 in 65 video games.
Pierrot has continued contributing to Haiti’s nationwide staff after qualification, together with an help in a 1-1 draw towards Iceland in a March warm-up sport.
Haiti opened its World Cup preparations in South Florida this week, the place the staff performs New Zealand and Peru in friendlies, earlier than touring to New Jersey for added coaching periods at Stockton College on June 8.
Les Grenadiers will face Brazil, Morocco and Scotland within the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which america, Mexico and Canada will host. Their opening match towards Scotland on June 13 will happen at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts — the state the place Pierrot developed a lot of his sport.
Massachusetts is rooting for Pierrot within the World Cup
Massachusetts is house to one of many nation’s largest Haitian American populations. In response to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, about 76,000 Haitian Individuals lived within the state as of 2024, trailing solely Florida and New York.
“We want you the most effective of luck as you progress ahead to the group stage,” Healey stated in the course of the ceremony. “We’re not simply right here to honor you but in addition to cheer for you.”
Pierrot attended Melrose Excessive Faculty earlier than enjoying collegiately at Northeastern College in Boston. In 2018, he was chosen by the Colorado Rapids within the MLS SuperDraft because the twenty seventh total choose. Nevertheless, he didn’t signal with the Rapids and as a substitute pursued his skilled profession in Europe, starting with Belgian aspect Royal Excel Mouscron earlier than transferring to France’s second division with Guingamp from 2019 to 2022.
He later joined Maccabi Haifa F.C. in Israel, the place he scored 28 objectives in 66 appearances and competed within the UEFA Champions League. Pierrot at present performs for Turkish membership Çaykur Rizespor on mortgage from Greek top-division outfit AEK Athens F.C.
Throughout the proclamation ceremony, Pierrot additionally introduced the launch of the Frantzdy Pierrot Basis, an initiative aimed toward serving to younger Haitian gamers entry alternatives with golf equipment, academies and scouts in Europe and the Americas. The muse will work alongside the already established Frantzdy Pierrot Academy in Haiti.
“We can not wait one other 52 years to achieve the World Cup,” Pierrot stated. “The time is now to put money into our individuals, our soccer and the way forward for the subsequent era.”