Haiti has been compelled to change its World Cup jerseys on the eve of the 2026 tournament after Fifa ruled that certain design elements were too political. The Concacaf qualifiers are set to begin their group stage against Scotland on Saturday.
Fifa's Decision and Manufacturer Response
Kit manufacturer Saeta released a statement confirming it worked with Fifa to ensure the design met regulations, even after implementing requested modifications during the mandatory review process. Saeta stated: "Working in close collaboration with the Haitian Football Federation, our objective throughout the process was to create a jersey that celebrated the pride, resilience and spirit of the Haitian people. Several concepts were developed and refined over a number of months and submitted through Fifa's standard approval process. The final design presented by Saeta was intended as a tribute to the men and women who contribute every day to Haiti's future and was not intended as a political statement."
The statement continued: "During the review process, 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. We remain proud to have contributed, alongside the Haitian Football Federation, to this historic moment for Haitian football and wish the team every success at the Fifa World Cup."
Controversial Imagery
The jerseys, available in blue (home), white (away), and red (third), featured red collars and sleeves with the national team badge centered. The contentious element was on the right hip, depicting silhouettes inspired by the Battle of Vertières and the Haitian revolution. In 1803, revolutionary leader Jean-Jacques Dessalines tore the white band from a French flag to create a new flag for "the world's first free Black republic." This moment is celebrated annually on May 18 as Haitian Flag Day.
The iconography appeared on all three shirts released by Saeta ahead of the tournament. All versions are currently sold out on Saeta's website, and the manufacturer does not appear to be releasing alternative shirts. Fifa's online shop only offers Haiti-specific merchandise in the form of a trucker hat and a scarf.
Previous Incidents
Haiti advanced from Concacaf World Cup qualifying for the first time since 1974 and wore the now-banned shirts during pre-tournament friendlies against New Zealand and Peru last week. However, in Fifa's official World Cup portrait sessions on Tuesday, players were seen wearing jerseys without the imagery.
This marks the second time this year a Haitian team has had to alter uniform designs for an international tournament. The International Olympic Committee required Haiti's ski suits to be redesigned before the Winter Olympics in Milan, as designer Stella Jean's imagery, which also depicted a revolutionary, was deemed to breach rules on designs and athlete expression.
