The U17 Men's World Cup was most recently held in Dubai last November, and one of our very own Impact City FC Cap–Haitien players represented both club and country at the highest level. Ritchie Kerly Valcourt, goalkeeper for both ICFC and the Haitian national team, earned a spot on the World Cup roster and received his first cap at the tournament as well.

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While soccer in the U.S. has consistently been gaining popularity over the last 20-30 years, "football" has always run through Haiti's veins. Soccer is Haiti's primary sport, and an incredible amount of talent can be found within it's youth. However, often due to the lack of infrastructure surrounding soccer within the country, the talent can go unseen and opportunities to play at the next level are hard to come by.

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Jean Alexandre, our Director of Coaching in South Florida, is a native of Haiti and the former captain of the Haitian national team. When he came on board with Impact City FC, he knew the club would eventually play a role in providing more opportunities for young players in Haiti. Impact City FC President and Founder, Aaron DeLoach, shared a similar vision, and the two went to work with local coaches and ministries to explore the possibility of our first international location...

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Impact City FC Cap-Haitien was started 18 months ago in August 2024. Through loads of prayer, generous donations, the training of local coaches through ICA (Impact Coaching Academy), and the incredible hard work of local staff members, we had our first national team call-up just six months after launching! Kerly received his first national team call-up and traveled to Dubai to play in the U17 FIFA World Cup. Although his team didn't progress out of the group stage, Kerly started and played a full 90 minutes in their third and final match against Venuzuela, registering 7 saves in their 4-2 loss.

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After experiencing his first world cup at age 16, Kerly had this to say to his Impact City FC family and to young athletes working to play at the next level, "I will never stop thanking Impact City FC in Haiti and in the U.S. for the amazing work they are doing. I feel very comfortable at the club and get along really well with the coaches—they make me feel at ease.

My message to other young players is to not get discouraged and to keep working hard. Even though Haiti offers few opportunities, you should remain disciplined and continue giving your best.

For Impact City, being such a young club and already producing two players for the youth national team is an incredible achievement. There are several academies that have been around for a long time, but they have not been able to produce youth national team players or a player who has played in a World Cup."

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He also said that the teams at Impact City are more than just teams—they are a family—and it’s rare to see players arguing with each other. He encourages parents whose children are interested in soccer to come try Impact City for the positive influence it has on players and the community.

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We also asked Jean Alexandre about the work ICFC is doing and the opportunities it's helping to create in Haiti, "ICFC is on the verge of transforming generations in Cap-Haïtien through the Word of God and the game of soccer. By combining soccer with biblical principles, ICFC equips young people to serve their community and become agents of change. Where there was once little hope, hope now exists—hope in Christ and hope that their dreams are attainable. Through ICFC, these young athletes have witnessed children from their own community earn opportunities to represent Haiti at the U-17 national team level.”

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In addition to our first national team call up, we recently received news that another ICFC player has called up to the national team, Messy Maxineau. Messy plays both Left Center Back and Left Back for the U17 national team. His first call up comes as the team travels to Port-au-Prince for a training camp. We're excited for the journey ahead for these young players and to continue to see them grow both with ICFC and the national team!

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What a privilege it is to play a profound role in the lives of the next generation, both in the U.S. and in Haiti, being able to provide life-changing opportunities to exceptional athletes whose talent might otherwise remain undiscovered is just the beginning. We exist to make an eternal impact on the soccer culture in cities everywhere, and through God's Word and God's love, be able to shape the next generation into the image of Christ, so that they too may become leaders who serve their city and change the world. We look forward to seeing more stories of players receiving life-changing opportunities like these!

About Impact City FC

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‍Impact City FC is a mission-driven soccer organization committed to developing leaders who serve their cities and change the world. With competitive club teams, community programs, and outreach initiatives both locally and globally, Impact City FC is shaping the future of soccer culture worldwide. Headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida, Impact City FC partners with like-minded individuals and organizations to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ through the beautiful game.

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‍Media Contact:

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‍Jaelene Daniels


Email: jdaniels@impactcityfc.com


Website: www.impactcityfc.com