World Cup watch party licenses about to be granted, Healey says

Organizers of World Cup watch parties around Massachusetts that have been left in licensing limbo should receive their approvals this week, Gov. Maura Healey said Tuesday.

The Healey administration in March doled out $10 million in grants for fan celebrations and community watch parties throughout the state, including in Easthampton, Everett, Greenfield, Worcester, Lowell, Burlington, Lexington and Weymouth. But FIFA so far has only given public viewing licenses to four out of 17 state grant recipients, and organizers are considering canceling plans, The Boston Globe reported last week.

"Communities should be assured that those licenses are forthcoming, so they should get out there, get after it, plan those watch parties," Healey told reporters Tuesday afternoon. "We want World Cup to be something that's celebrated across the state, enjoyed across the state. A lot of communities have signed up to do that work, and you know, we're looking forward to it."

While the licenses have not come through yet, Healey said "we've received assurances that they are going to come through." The governor said she expects that to happen "in the next day or so."

Asked who should be blamed for the licensing issues, Healey said, "It's FIFA's process."

Haiti and Scotland will face off in the first World Cup match in Foxborough in 17 days.

Healey on Tuesday hosted a celebration for soccer player Frantzdy Pierrot, who grew up in Massachusetts and is playing on the Haitian national team.

Haiti has not played in the World Cup for 52 years, according to a proclamation from Healey designating Tuesday as Frantzdy Pierrot Day. Born in Haiti, Pierrot moved to Melrose when he 11 years. He attended Northeastern University and played on the men's soccer team for two years, and began his professional career playing for Belgium soccer club Mouscron, the proclamation said.

"This is a team that's about resilience, it's about grit," Healey said. "No other team has overcome the obstacles that the Haiti team has overcome — unable to play a true home game because of the turmoil in your country, which puts so many of your family members in danger and uncertainty."