Haiti forced to alter World Cup shirt after Fifa flags political imagery rule breach

Haiti have been forced into a last-minute redesign of their World Cup 2026 shirt after Fifa determined that imagery on the original kit breached its regulations on political speech, with the change confirmed just days before their Group C opener against Scotland in Boston on Saturday.

The original shirt, produced by Colombian manufacturer Saeta, featured a war scene drawn from Haiti’s historic battle for independence. The design was described as a tribute to “the pride, resilience, and spirit” of the Haitian people, with Saeta insisting at the time that no political statement was intended.

Fifa’s review process led to a different conclusion. In a statement released on Wednesday, Saeta confirmed that modifications had been made following direct communication with the Haitian Football Federation and at Fifa’s request.

“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,” Saeta said. “While this interpretation differed from our intention, Saeta respected the process and implemented the final requirements communicated by FIFA.”

Fifa, the Haitian Football Federation, and the team’s media officer did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters.

Haiti face Scotland in Boston on Saturday in their first match of World Cup 2026 Group C.