Fifa has forced Haiti to change their 2026 World Cup shirts just days before facing Scotland in their opening group match, ruling that certain design elements could be interpreted as political. The Caribbean nation, appearing at the tournament for the first time since 1974, had unveiled a popular kit produced by Saeta, featuring blue, white, and red versions that quickly sold out online.
Design Controversy
The shirts included silhouettes inspired by the Battle of Vertières and the Haitian Revolution, referencing a pivotal period in Haiti's history. Central figure Jean-Jacques Dessalines, who became Haiti's first emperor, removed the white section from a French flag in 1803 to create the world's first free black republic, a moment commemorated annually on Haitian Flag Day. Despite its historical significance, Fifa concluded that some elements violated its equipment regulations.
Manufacturer's Response
Saeta stated it had worked months with the Haitian Football Federation to create a design celebrating 'the pride, resilience and spirit of the Haitian people.' The company noted that multiple concepts were submitted through Fifa's approval process, and the final design was intended as a tribute, not a political statement. However, Fifa requested changes, and Saeta complied, respecting the approval process.
Evidence of Changes
Official World Cup portrait photos released by Fifa on Tuesday show Haiti's players wearing shirts without the disputed imagery, a change from recent friendlies against New Zealand and Peru. The original shirts are sold out, with no replacement stock planned, likely making them collectors' items.
This is not the first time a Haitian team faced clothing issues in 2026. Earlier, the International Olympic Committee required redesigns of Haiti's ski suits for the Winter Olympics in Milan due to similar concerns over revolutionary imagery.
Haiti now prepares to face Scotland in their opening match, wearing a revised version of the original design.
