World Cup offers Haitians in Boston hope amid crisis at home

What they're saying: "What's really beautiful about soccer and about these moments is about what it means to celebrate who you," Boston City Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune said at an Everyone250 event last week.

• Louijeune, who is Haitian American, says she has conducted multiple interviews with Scottish media, welcoming them — and telling them they're going down on Saturday

Friction point: The violence in Haiti, which prevented the team from playing any qualifying matches in the country, isn't the only challenge impacting Les Grenadiers and their fans.

• Supporters living in Haiti are prohibited from traveling to the U.S. under a travel ban imposed by President Trump.
• Meanwhile, FIFA this week forced Haiti to remake its jerseys after saying a design depicting the Haitian War of Independence was too political.

The bottom line: Fans who aren't attending Saturday's match at Boston Stadium will likely turn out for the watch parties planned in Boston and other Massachusetts cities.