Why were Haiti forced to change their FIFA World Cup 2026 jersey?
Haiti will open their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against Scotland on June 13.
Another controversy has hit the FIFA World Cup 2026, with Haiti being forced to change their jersey for the tournament ahead of the start of their campaign on June 13. The Caribbean nation saw the design of their jersey rejected by FIFA for being too political.
The original jersey for the upcoming World Cup featured a depiction of the final battle of the Haitian War of Independence in 1803. The design on the front was rejected by FIFA during the approval process.
Saeta, the Colombian company that designed the jersey, accepted FIFA’s verdict. However, they claimed that the design “was not intended as a political statement”, but as a “tribute to the men and women who contribute every day to Haiti’s future”. The jersey’s blue colour represented the sea, and the red represented the nation’s “strength and passion”, Saeta said.
Les Grenadiers players wore the jersey, which has since been banned, during a warm-up friendly against Peru.
Second ban for Haiti jersey
This is the second time that the Caribbean nation has seen its jersey rejected. Earlier, the International Olympic Committee rejected the country’s opening ceremony uniforms for the Milan Cortina Winter Games. The reason for the rejection was the presence of an image of the country’s founding father, Toussaint Louverture, which the IOC deemed “political symbolism”.
“Either way, Haiti has to be setting a record: Two rebukes from the highest international sports authorities in just a few months,” designer Stella Jean, who designed the Olympic uniforms, said.
Les Grenadiers open their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against Scotland on June 13, 2026. The match will be hosted at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Why were Haiti forced to change their FIFA World Cup 2026 jersey?
FIFA rejected their original jersey design for being too political, as it depicted the final battle of the Haitian War of Independence (1803).
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.