Haiti have been compelled to make a last-minute alteration to their 2026 World Cup jersey after FIFA raised concerns that the design breached its regulations regarding political expression.

As the Haitian team prepares to begin their World Cup campaign in Group C with a clash against Scotland in Boston on Saturday, the original jersey design featured imagery depicting a battle scene from the nation’s historic fight for independence.

However, the sportswear company Saeta, which produces the team’s kits, confirmed on Wednesday that a rapid revision had been made in coordination with the Haitian Football Federation to comply with FIFA’s directions.

The earlier version of the shirt was described as a tribute to the “pride, resilience, and spirit” of the Haitian people. The Colombian manufacturer stressed that the design was never intended to convey a political message.

FIFA nonetheless objected to the depiction of the 1803 Battle of Vertières, a pivotal event that secured Haiti’s independence. The image had already appeared on the team’s shirts during pre-tournament friendlies against New Zealand and Peru.

According to FIFA, the design violated its strict regulations that prohibit “political, religious, or personal messages or slogans” on players’ kits.

“During the review process, FIFA concluded that some visual elements might be interpreted differently under its equipment regulations and therefore requested modifications to the design,” Saeta said in an official statement.

Haiti’s home kit by Saeta (Saeta)

“Although this interpretation differed from our original intent, Saeta respected the governing process and implemented the final changes as instructed by FIFA,” the company added.

This marks Haiti’s first appearance at a World Cup in 52 years, their only previous participation coming in 1974 when they lost all three group matches, conceding 14 goals in total.

In recent warm-up matches, Haiti secured a convincing 4-0 win over New Zealand before suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat to Peru. Despite the setback, optimism remains high as they prepare to compete against Scotland, Morocco, and Brazil in their group.

FIFA, the Haitian Football Federation, and the team’s media representative did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters.