Just days ahead of their opening 2023 Women’s World Cup Group C clash against Scotland, Haiti has been required to alter its official team kit after global governing body FIFA ruled out a design feature honoring a pivotal moment in the nation’s fight for independence. The original kit, produced by Colombian apparel manufacturer Saeta, included a subtle illustration of the 1803 Battle of Vertieres — the conflict that ultimately secured Haiti’s sovereignty from colonial rule — paired with the country’s national flag. Haitian players wore the original design in two warm-up friendly matches held in Florida earlier this month, triggering a review by FIFA’s equipment compliance team.
In an official statement shared to Instagram Wednesday, Saeta clarified the original creative intent behind the controversial design, emphasizing it was never meant to carry a political message. “The final design we presented was crafted as a tribute to all the Haitian men and women who work every day to build a better future for their country,” the statement read. “Throughout the standard regulatory review process, FIFA concluded that specific visual elements in the design could be interpreted in a way that violates their equipment guidelines, and formally requested adjustments to the kit. While FIFA’s interpretation does not align with our original, non-political intent, Saeta respects the governing body’s processes and has fully implemented the required modifications to meet their final specifications.”
The kit revision comes as Haiti prepares to make its long-awaited return to the World Cup stage, kicking off its campaign against Scotland in Boston on Saturday. This is only the second time in the nation’s history that it has qualified for the tournament, ending a 52-year drought since its last World Cup appearance. Ranked 83rd in the global FIFA rankings, the underdog Caribbean side faces a daunting group stage challenge: after facing Scotland, it will go up against five-time tournament champion Brazil and current African title holder Morocco.
Haiti’s historic qualification has already been hailed as one of the most uplifting underdog stories of this year’s tournament. The team overcame extraordinary off-pitch obstacles to secure their spot, amid widespread gang violence and political instability that has plunged the impoverished Caribbean nation into chaos. The ongoing unrest made it impossible for the team to host any of its qualifying matches on home soil, forcing the side to play all home fixtures in neutral territories. Despite these crippling challenges, the squad pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the qualifying process to book their place in the 32-team tournament.
For Haitian midfielder and team star Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, the World Cup berth offers a chance to reshape global perceptions of his crisis-stricken homeland. “We know many people around the world have a negative image of our country, that they only see all the problems we face,” Bellegarde told AFP in an interview. “But just being here, competing on this stage, will bring so much good for our country, our people, and our families.”