FIFA forces Haiti to redesign World Cup kit over political imagery

FIFA ruled that a design element on Haiti's World Cup uniform violated the tournament’s rule against political messages. The disputed detail portrayed the 1803 battle of Vertières, a pivotal event in Haiti’s fight for independence from France. FIFA required the Haitian Football Federation to replace the kit before the team’s opening group match against Scotland.

Kit maker Saeta said the original design was intended as a tribute to the Haitian people and not a political statement. The manufacturer is working with the federation to produce a modified version in time for the tournament, which marks Haiti’s first World Cup appearance since 1976.