FIFA orders Haiti to modify World Cup jersey over political messaging concerns

Haiti's long-awaited return to the FIFA World Cup after more than half a century has been overshadowed by a last-minute dispute over the national team's jersey, after football's governing body ruled that elements of the design violated its rules on political messaging.

Just days before their opening match, Haiti were instructed to modify their kit after FIFA raised concerns over artwork depicting the Battle of Vertières, as Al Jazeera reports.

The decisive 1803 victory that paved the way for the country's independence, as it successfully fended off the French expeditionary troop's intention of restoring slavery on the island, effectively leading to the abolition of the practice in Haiti.

The jersey was created by sportswear manufacturer Saeta in collaboration with the Haitian Football Federation. Haiti, still the only Caribbean nation ever to have qualified for the men's FIFA World Cup, wore the design during pre-tournament friendlies, but it was deemed non-compliant during FIFA's final approval process.

FIFA's equipment regulations prohibit "political, religious, or personal messages or slogans" on team kits during international competitions.

According to Saeta, FIFA concluded that parts of the design "could be interpreted differently" under those rules, prompting the request for modifications.

"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," Saeta said in a statement.

"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."

Proud moment in Haitian history

The disputed artwork references the Battle of Vertières, widely regarded as one of the defining moments in Haitian history. The victory over French forces in November 1803 cleared the path for Haiti's declaration of independence the following year, making it the first nation established by formerly enslaved people following a successful revolution.

For many Haitians, the battle remains a powerful symbol of national identity, resilience and liberation—values Saeta said it sought to reflect in the team's World Cup jersey.

Despite the late redesign, Haiti will still make its historic return to football's biggest stage. Drawn alongside Scotland, Brazil and Morocco, the Caribbean side will open its World Cup campaign against Scotland on Saturday, June 13, wearing a slightly modified version of the original kit.

By Nazrin Sadigova