Haiti arrived at their first World Cup in 52 years and FIFA made them change their shirts before they even kicked a ball. The kit, designed by Colombia-based manufacturer Saeta, depicted a war scene from Haiti's battle for independence — and that was enough for football's governing body to flag it as a violation of its political speech regulations.
Saeta says the design was never meant to be political. It was built to "celebrate the pride, resilience, and spirit" of the Haitian people. FIFA saw something different in the imagery, and the kit was modified. No public statement from FIFA, no public statement from the Haitian Football Federation. Just a quiet redesign and a press release from the manufacturer explaining why.
Context that makes this sting a little more
Haiti haven't played a home match since 2021. Gang violence following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise eventually led armed groups to take control of the Stade Sylvio Cator — their own national stadium. Every World Cup qualifier was played at a neutral venue. They couldn't even host a game on home soil to reach this tournament.
So when the kit manufacturer says the design was about pride and resilience, that's not marketing language. That's the actual story of how this team got here.
And FIFA's response was to pull the shirts.
Saturday in Boston: Haiti vs Scotland
Whatever the kit looks like now, Haiti open Group C against Scotland in Boston on Saturday — and back in Port-au-Prince, residents dealing with chronic power cuts and gang violence have been building makeshift viewing areas in the streets to watch together. Their second-ever World Cup appearance. Their first since 1974.
From a betting standpoint, Haiti are heavy underdogs against Scotland, and nothing about the kit saga changes that on the pitch. But a distracted build-up rarely helps a team that's already operating under the weight of everything this country has been through.
Saeta's final line says it plainly: "While this interpretation differed from our intention, Saeta respected the process and implemented the final requirements communicated by FIFA."
FIFA has not responded to requests for comment.
