Overview:
Dave & Buster’s Hollywood plans to host Haiti World Cup watch parties, bringing together South Florida’s large Haitian community to celebrate Les Grenadiers’ historic return to the global tournament while raising money for local nonprofit organizations.
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — Global sports bar and restaurant chain Dave & Buster’s plans to transform one of its South Florida locations into a celebration venue for Haitian soccer fans throughout next month’s FIFA World Cup group stage matches, as Haiti prepares to return to the global stage for its first tournament showing in 52 years.
“This is a way to connect with families in the large Haitian immigrant community and show them how much we understand the significance of this moment and care about them,” Steven Greenblatt, sales manager at the company’s Hollywood branch, told The Haitian Times.
The venue will host live watch parties for Haiti’s all three World Cup matches against Scotland, Brazil and Morocco in Group C, bringing together supporters from across South Florida to cheer on Les Grenadiers on big screens in what organizers describe as a celebration of culture, soccer and national pride.
The events will feature music, food, drinks and live entertainment hosted by Miami radio personality DJ Lucky C of WEDR-99 Jamz in a family-like atmosphere. Company officials say they are intended to recreate the energy of a stadium crowd that matches the community’s excitement, with fans encouraged to wear Haiti’s blue and red colors, bring flags, and celebrate each game together from kickoff to the final whistle.
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“We are ready for a Haitian takeover at our big state-of-the-art sports entertainment restaurant here,” said Joe Cebien, who has worked at Dave & Buster’s Hollywood for nearly 30 years as a cook. “It will be like we have seen before,” the longest-tenured Haitian, among 20 others currently employed at the location, added.
The watch parties come as businesses and organizations across South Florida increasingly seek to engage Haitian audiences around Haiti’s historic World Cup return. Broward and Miami-Dade counties together are home to one of the largest Haitian diaspora populations in the United States, with soccer often serving as a strong cultural and intergenerational connection point.
Excitement, pride and unity underscore a long-awaited moment
Haiti’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup marks the country’s return to the tournament since 1974. For many Haitians, particularly younger generations born after the nation’s only previous World Cup appearance, the moment represents a rare source of collective pride amid years of political instability, insecurity and economic hardship at home.
To make the community a part of planning and outcome, Dave & Buster’s Hollywood is partnering with three South Florida Haitian organizations: the Haitian Mobilization Committee (HMC), the Miramar Haitian-American Residents and Business Owners (MHARBO) and Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center.
“We are ready for a Haitian takeover at our big state-of-the-art sports entertainment restaurant.”
Joe Cebien, Senior cook
According to Greenblatt, 20% of proceeds from the events will support community programs run by these organizations.
The HMC focuses on youth development, cultural programming and civic engagement within the Haitian American community. MHARBO advocates for the economic and educational advancement of Haitian residents and entrepreneurs, while Sant La provides social services, immigration assistance and other community support programs in North Miami.
Greenblatt said that involving Haitian-led organizations and employees was central to the initiative to achieve a huge turnout.
“The community is excited,” Cebien told The Haitian Times. “Families and friends cannot wait to come together and experience these moments. We have been waiting for this for so long.”
The entertainment complex can accommodate more than 2,000 people, according to company officials.
Haiti will enter the World Cup against Scotland on June 13, followed by matches against Brazil and Morocco on June 19 and 24, respectively.
Gatherings are intended to go beyond sports
For organizers, the watch parties are intended to serve as more than just places to watch soccer matches. Greenblatt said the initiative is also about strengthening ties with the Haitian community at a moment when many Haitians, both in Haiti and throughout the diaspora, continue facing economic hardship, insecurity and immigration-related challenges.
“At a time when many Haitians are facing challenges both in Haiti and abroad, we want this to be an uplifting experience that brings people together,” he said.
“This is a way to connect with families in the large Haitian immigrant community and show them how much we understand the significance of this moment and care about them.”
Steven Greenblatt, Sales manager
Greenblatt added that Dave & Buster’s Hollywood hopes the initiative can serve as a model for other locations in cities with large Haitian populations, including Orlando, Boston, Indiana, Atlanta and New York/New Jersey. He said the company is exploring ways to deepen partnerships with Haitian-led organizations, businesses, youth groups and other community institutions beyond the World Cup.
“The goal is to create a welcoming environment where Haitian families and supporters can celebrate together while also building stronger community connections through cultural and civic engagement,” the sales manager added.
