Why Haiti had to alter shirts just days ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026
Haiti have been drawn in Group C along with Scotland, Brazil and Morocco. They'll play their first match on Sunday against Scotland.
Haiti national soccer team players pose for a team photo at the start of an international friendly soccer match against Peru, Friday, June 5, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Just days ahead of their first match in the FIFA World Cup, Haiti had to alter the design of their jersey. The shirts, which depicted a war scene from the country’s battle for independence, had to be changed due to FIFA flagging it for violating its regulations on political speech.
“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. While this interpretation differed from our intention, Saeta respected the process and implemented the final requirements communicated by FIFA,” the shirt manufacturer Saeta said.
One of the least developed countries in the world, Haiti is often described as a failed state. But the Caribbean island of 12 million people, which was ravaged by a devastating earthquake in 2010, will be making its second appearance at the FIFA World Cup this year.
Share
