Haiti Changes World Cup Shirt After FIFA Objects to Battle Scene
Haiti have been forced to redesign their World Cup shirt only days before their tournament opener against Scotland, after FIFA banned a depiction of a war scene from the kit.
An illustration of the Battle of Vertieres in 1803, which secured Haiti’s independence, with the Haitian flag had been embedded on the shirts worn by the players in two warm-up friendlies in Florida. Colombian manufacturer Saeta confirmed on Wednesday that the kit had been modified to meet FIFA’s regulations.
“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 company said in a statement posted on Instagram.
“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.”
The dispute touches a moment central to Haitian identity. The 1803 Battle of Vertieres was the decisive clash that ended French colonial rule and set the stage for Haiti to become the world’s first free Black republic. Notably, Haiti sealed their qualification with a victory over Nicaragua on November 18, 2025, the same date the country commemorates that historic battle each year.
Haiti begin their first World Cup campaign in 52 years against Scotland in Boston on Saturday. The Caribbean side, ranked 83rd in the world, then face five-time winners Brazil and African champions Morocco in Group C.
Their presence at the finals stands as one of the most striking stories of the tournament. Against a backdrop of domestic turmoil, with the impoverished nation gripped by gang violence that prevented them from staging home qualifiers on Haitian soil, the team reached only the second World Cup in their history. Their first and only previous appearance came in 1974.
For the players, the campaign carries weight far beyond the pitch. “We know people might have a bad image of our country, that it has lots of problems, but this will do the country, the people, my family so much good,” star midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde told AFP.
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