Scotland’s World Cup opponents forced into last-minute kit redesign as FIFA deem ‘visual element’ as political
Scotland’s World Cup opponents Haiti have been forced to redesign their kit for the tournament.
Scotland’s opening-game opponents at the World Cup have been forced into a last-minute redesign of their kit after FIFA claimed it could be interpreted as a political statement.
Haiti will compete at the tournament for only the second time in their history, and have been drawn against Scotland, Morocco and Brazil in Group C, with their opening clash set to be against Steve Clarke’s men in the early hours on Sunday morning.
Set to play in their royal blue home kit designed by Colombian sportswear company Saeta, with Scotland in their Adidas away kit, they have now been informed they must redesign their jersey ahead of the game after it failed to comply with FIFA rules.
The design depicts the 1803 Battle of Vertieres, also known as the final battle of the Haitian Revolution, which freed the island’s inhabitants from slavery under French rule and secured the country's independence, alongside the country's horizontal blue, red and white flag embedded onto the shirts, and has been worn in their pre-tournament friendlies.
However, just three days before they are set to kick-off their campaign against Scotland at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, football’s governing body have ordered Saeta to redesign the jersey due to its regulations, which they prohibit the use of any "political, religious, or personal messages or slogans”.
On the decision, a spokesperson for the Haitian national team said: “Following a misinterpretation, FIFA officials asked the federation to remove an image depicting Vertières and some independence heroes raising the Haitian flag. Vertieres is the site of the last battle leading to our independence, fought on November 18, 1803. Ironically, the team qualified for the 2025 World Cup on November 18, 2025. The federation has not issued any [further] statement on the matter; they simply asked Saeta to change it.”
In response, kit manufacturer Saeta said: “The kit was a tribute to the men and women who contribute every day to Haiti's future" and "was not intended as a political statement. It added: “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."
It has now been confirmed that Haiti have agreed to change both their royal blue home and white away World Cup kits, with the design set to omit the 1803 Battle of Vertieres print which has been emblazoned on the right hand side of the jersey.
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