Fifa orders Haiti to change World Cup shirt before Scotland opener
Fifa has forced Haiti to change their kit design just four days before their World Cup opener against Scotland because the shirt depicted a historical war scene.
An illustration of the 1803 Battle of Vertieres had been embedded on the jerseys worn during recent pre-tournament friendlies.
The historic conflict ultimately secured independence for the Caribbean nation.
However, global football’s governing body strictly prohibits the use of political, religious, or personal messages on any match equipment.
Manufacturer defends original design
Colombian kit manufacturer Saeta defended the initial artwork as a tribute rather than a controversial statement.
“The original design was a tribute to the men and women who contribute every day to Haiti’s future and was not intended as a political statement.”
The company acknowledged that regulators could interpret the visual elements differently under strict competition guidelines.
“While this interpretation differed from our intention, Saeta respected the process and implemented the final requirements communicated by Fifa.”
Historic return to the global stage
The national side will begin their first tournament campaign in 52 years against the Scots at Boston Stadium in Foxborough at 02:00 BST on Sunday.
They will subsequently face five-time champions Brazil and Morocco in a challenging Group C.
Their only previous appearance at the finals came in 1974.
During that historic debut, the squad suffered three consecutive group-stage defeats and conceded 14 goals.