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Haiti have been forced into a late change on their World Cup 2026 shirts after Fifa accused them of violating its regulations on political speech.
Haiti, preparing to kick off their World Cup in Group C against Scotland in Boston on Saturday, previously had a shirt that depicted a war scene from the country’s battle for independence.
But shirt manufacturer Saeta confirmed on Wednesday that a swift, late change had been made after collaborating with the Haitian Football Federation on the design.
It previously was said to be geared towards “celebrating the pride, resilience, and spirit” of the Haitian people, with the Colombian manufacturer emphasising that it did not intend it to be a political statement.
But Fifa has objected to the illustration of the Battle of Vertieres in 1803, which secured Haiti’s independence, with the shirt and image seen in the pre-tournament friendlies against New Zealand and Peru.
It is said to contravene Fifa’s rules against any “political, religious, or personal messages or slogans” on kits.
“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 in a statement.
Haiti’s home kit by Saeta (Saeta)
“While this interpretation differed from our intention, Saeta respected the process and implemented the final requirements communicated by FIFA.”
Haiti is playing in its first World Cup in 52 years, with its only previous World Cup appearance in 1974 when they lost all three group games, shipping 14 goals along the way.
After a big 4-0 win over New Zealand, Haiti lost 2-1 to Peru, but hopes remain high heading into a group that features Scotland, Morocco and Brazil.
Soccer’s world governing body FIFA, the Haitian Football Federation and the team’s media officer did not immediately respond when asked by Reuters for comment.
Reuters contributed to this report
