Paryaj Lakay donates $150K to Haiti’s U-17 boys’ soccer team for World Cup prep

CAP-HAÏTIEN — Sports betting and casino company Paryaj Lakay, Haitian Creole for Home Bet, has partnered with the Haitian Football Federation (FHF) to help prepare the men’s under-17 national soccer team for the 2025 FIFA World Cup, which will be played in Qatar in November. According to its Aug. 1 Facebook post, the Pétion-Ville-based company has donated through its foundation 19.8 million gourdes—approximately $150,000—to the FHF to ensure the team arrives in the best possible condition for the competition. 

“They are our future,” the betting platform officials wrote. “There’s no bigger pride than waving our flag for the world to see.”

The donation is among the largest ever made by a Haitian betting platform to a national sports entity—signaling the country’s growing reliance on private betting sponsors amid chronic underfunding from the government and lack of transparency from national federations. The country’s sports sector, particularly soccer, has a longstanding reliance on gambling sponsorship—notably the lottery industry, mostly known as bòlèt. 

FHF confirmed the partnership in a July 31 statement, adding that a donation feature is also active on the ParyajLakay.com site to allow public contributions.

“Through this gesture, the Paryaj Lakay Foundation reaffirms its commitment to Haitian youth and launches a call for national mobilization,” the statement read.

Public distrust amid a long history of financial mismanagement in Haitian soccer

Despite appreciation for the donation, many Haitians remain concerned that the funds won’t be used as intended.

“We can’t trust them [FHF],” said Varona Jean-Charles, a soccer fan from Léogâne. “Yes, Paryaj Lakay is trying to save the team, but people in the federation might not use all of it on the team. We must have doubts. We live in a corrupt country.”

Jean-Charles, 28, said he still plans to contribute through Paryaj Lakay’s platform—but with reservations.

“If they misuse my money, karma will hit them,” he said, calling for  Haiti’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) to audit FHF spending.

Others echoed his sentiments on social media.

“It would’ve been great if this money did exactly what it’s supposed to do,” wrote Facebook user Vilgard Charles.

The exact breakdown of how the $150,000 will be used remains unclear, and neither FHF nor Paryaj Lakay responded to messages from The Haitian Times seeking comment.

The FHF has long faced allegations of embezzlement and unaccountability. In 2017, for instance, FIFA donated half a million US dollars to rehabilitate six fields damaged by Hurricane Matthew—funds that failed to yield visible results.

In 2019, Haiti’s senior men’s national team made a historic run to the Gold Cup semifinals, yet players never received their promised bonuses. According to  AyiboPost, the federation received $200,000 from CONCACAF for that tournament.

This pattern of missing funds continues to cast doubt on even well-intentioned contributions.

World Cup preparation in three phases

Haiti’s under-17 team is currently in Port-au-Prince with 26 players for the first phase of training. On July 29, they defeated local club Abeilles FC in a friendly match. They will travel to the south and the north this month to continue with their training and play more warm-up games. 

The second phase will take place in Jamaica from August 31 to September 14. The final phase will be held in Spain from September 15 through October 31 before traveling to Qatar.

At the 2025 U-17 FIFA World Cup,  Les Grenadiers will face Egypt on Nov. 4, England on Nov. 7, and Venezuela on Nov. 10 in the group stage.

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