Sofia Quijada
Haiti have been ordered by FIFA to modify their 2026 World Cup kit design just days before their opening group match, with world football’s governing body ruling that the shirt’s imagery violates its equipment regulations.
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Haiti jersey. lefloridien.com: Edited photo
The tournament officially gets underway on Thursday when Mexico face South Africa at 8pm BST. The competition — co-hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada — has already drawn significant off-field controversy. FIFA president Gianni Infantino told reporters to “chill” and “relax” during his pre-tournament press conference after Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the United States. Iraq striker Aymen Hussein was held and questioned for nearly seven hours at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport after arriving with his squad.
Haiti’s Kit Design Ruled Non-Compliant
Haiti face Scotland in their opening Group C fixture on Sunday at 2am BST, with Brazil and Morocco to follow. The shirt in question, produced by Colombian manufacturer Saeta, featured a depiction of a war scene that FIFA determined breached its equipment regulations. Per BBC Sport, those rules prohibit “political, religious, or personal messages or slogans” on kit.
Saeta issued a statement describing the original design as “a tribute to the men and women who contribute every day to Haiti’s future”, stressing it “was not intended as a political statement.”
“FIFA determined that certain visual elements could be interpreted differently under its equipment regulations and ultimately requested modifications to the design. While this interpretation differed from our intention, Saeta respected the process and implemented the final requirements communicated by FIFA.”
The Battle of Vertières at the Centre of the Dispute
The imagery at the heart of the dispute depicts the Battle of Vertières — fought in November 1803 — which marked the culmination of the Haitian Revolution and led directly to the proclamation of independence on January 1, 1804, establishing the world’s first Black republic. Saeta framed the image as a symbol of national pride.
An investigative journalist covering the story offered a pointed response to FIFA‘s decision:
“A symbol of national pride, this battle was chosen by Saeta as a tribute to those men and women who enabled the emancipation of a country raising its flag toward the sky. Unthinkable for FIFA, which sees this as a ‘political message’ and has therefore demanded modifications to comply with the competition’s rules. As we all know: the rules exist, but they only apply to certain nations. Keep the faith.”
Haiti’s First World Cup Appearance in 52 Years
Haiti are competing in their first World Cup since 1974 — a gap of 52 years. Their sole previous appearance ended with three consecutive group-stage defeats and 14 goals conceded. The Caribbean nation carries enormous expectation from its supporters simply by being present at the tournament, making the kit controversy an unwelcome distraction in the final hours before their campaign begins.
Stay with TipsGG for full coverage of Haiti‘s 2026 World Cup campaign and every major story from the tournament as it unfolds.