FIFA forces Haiti to remove revolutionary image from World Cup jersey

The Haitian national soccer team will debut at the 2026 World Cup without a historic illustration on its kit after FIFA ruled the design a prohibited political symbol. The image, showing a group holding a red‑white flag, referenced the Haitian Revolution (1791‑1804) and the decisive Battle of Vertières in 1803, a source of national pride. A Haitian federation representative told The Athletic that the design celebrated the country's fight for freedom and the abolition of slavery. FIFA argued that the graphic violated its regulations against political expressions, prompting Haiti to alter its uniforms.

The change follows a similar censorship earlier this year, when the International Olympic Committee barred an illustration of Toussaint Louverture from Haiti’s Winter Games uniform. Historian Gabriel Léccas noted the pattern as a silencing of Black historical memory in sport. Haiti qualified for the tournament by beating Nicaragua 2‑0 on 18 November 2025.