FIFA forced a 2026 World Cup participant to change its uniform due to an image depicting a historic battle
The Haitian national soccer team was forced to urgently redesign its uniforms just a few days before its debut match at the 2026 World Cup due to an official ban by FIFA.
The International Federation of Association Football blocked the use of a historical image depicting a battle scene on the jerseys.
Tournament organizers deemed this imagery a violation of current regulations regarding team uniforms.
The previous version of the kit, which Haitian players wore during June friendly matches against the national teams of New Zealand and Peru, depicted the Battle of Vertière in 1803.
This event is a key milestone in the Haitian Revolution, as a result of which the Caribbean country won its independence. Alongside the battle scene, the national flag of the republic was also integrated into the design.
The Colombian brand Saeta, which serves as the technical sponsor and apparel manufacturer for the national team, quickly redesigned the graphic elements at the request of soccer authorities.
“The final design presented by Saeta was intended as a tribute to the men and women who contribute daily to Haiti’s future and was not meant to be a political statement. During its review, FIFA concluded that certain visual elements could be interpreted differently under the kit regulations and therefore requested changes,” company representatives officially stated.
The Caribbean team will play its first World Cup match in 52 years on the night of Sunday, June 14, facing the Scottish national team.
In addition to Scotland, Haiti’s players will compete in Group C of the group stage against the national teams of Brazil and Morocco for a spot in the knockout round.
The World Cup kicks off in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada
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