FIFA bans Haiti's Battle of Vertières kit tribute days before Scotland World Cup opener

Haiti have been forced into an emergency kit redesign on the eve of their World Cup opener against Scotland in Boston after FIFA ruled that a historical tribute woven into their shirts violated equipment regulations prohibiting political messages on the pitch.

The disputed design, produced by Colombian sportswear brand Saeta, featured silhouette illustrations of the 1803 Battle of Vertières — the revolutionary defeat of French forces that established Haiti as the world’s first free Black republic — embroidered on the right hip of the jerseys. FIFA invoked its standard equipment rules, which ban visible “political, religious, or personal messages”, and instructed the Haitian Football Federation to modify the shirts before the tournament begins.

Saeta pushed back in an official statement, insisting the imagery was never intended as a political statement. “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,” the brand said. “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 added that several concepts had been developed and refined over months before being submitted through FIFA’s standard approval process, suggesting the governing body’s late intervention came as a significant blow to both the federation and the manufacturer.

Haiti’s players have already been photographed in modified, blank kits during their official pre-tournament portrait sessions, underlining how swiftly the ruling took effect. The Caribbean side had worn the original Saeta jerseys throughout their World Cup warm-up fixtures before the ban was enforced.

The kit controversy is the latest in a series of politically charged incidents to overshadow the build-up to the tournament. Somali referee Omar Artan, named the 2025 African Referee of the Year and holding valid FIFA credentials, was denied entry to the United States and deported after being interrogated by US Customs and Border Protection officials at Miami International Airport. Somali officials attributed the decision to the Trump administration’s immigration policies, and the episode has drawn scrutiny toward FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s relationship with the US government. Geopolitical tensions surrounding Iran’s participation have also featured prominently in pre-tournament discussions.

For Haiti, whose return to the World Cup finals is a landmark moment for the nation, the enforced kit change represents an unwelcome distraction in the days leading up to their opening match.