The Jerseys, Made By Sportswear Brand Saeta, Featured Imagery From The Haitian Revolution
Haiti’s road to the World Cup is already historic, but the team’s uniform has now become part of a larger conversation about culture, history and what international sports bodies consider “political.”
The Haitian national soccer team was forced to alter its World Cup jersey after FIFA rejected the original design, which featured imagery tied to the Haitian Revolution. The uniforms were created by sportswear brand Saeta and included a scene from the final battle of the Haitian War of Independence.
Haiti wore the original jersey design during recent international friendlies against Peru and New Zealand before FIFA pushed for changes through its standard approval process.
According to Saeta, FIFA raised concerns that “certain visual elements could be interpreted differently under its equipment regulations.” The company said the design was created in collaboration with the Haitian Football Federation to honor Haiti’s identity, not to make a political statement.
“Working in close collaboration with the Haitian Football Federation, our objective throughout the process was to create a jersey that celebrated the pride, resilience and spirit of the Haitian people,” Saeta said in a statement.
Saeta said several concepts were developed over several months before the final version was submitted to FIFA. The company maintained that the design was meant to pay tribute to Haiti’s people and future.
“The final design presented by Saeta was intended as a tribute to the men and women who contribute every day to Haiti’s future and was not intended as a political statement,” the company said.
Saeta Says FIFA’s Interpretation Differed From Its Intent
FIFA ultimately asked Saeta to modify the jersey, though the brand said the governing body’s interpretation did not match the meaning behind the design.
Saeta said it remains proud of its work with the Haitian Football Federation and the team’s World Cup moment.
“We remain proud to have contributed, alongside the Haitian Football Federation, to this historic moment for Haitian football and wish the team every success at the Fifa World Cup,” the company said.
Haiti Faces Second Uniform Dispute In Months
The jersey controversy comes just months after Haiti’s Winter Olympics uniforms were also flagged by the International Olympic Committee for violating rules against political, religious or racial propaganda.
Those original Olympic designs included Toussaint Louverture, one of the leaders of the Haitian Revolution, riding a horse. Louverture, a formerly enslaved man who became a general, is widely considered one of Haiti’s founding fathers. Haiti won its independence from France in 1804.
Designer Stella Jean later removed Louverture from the final Olympic uniform but kept the horse as a reference to the revolutionary leader.
Speaking Thursday to the Associated Press about the latest jersey dispute, Jean said Haiti appears to be in rare territory. “Either way, Haiti has to be setting a record: Two rebukes from the highest international sports authorities in just a few months,” Jean said.
For Haiti, the debate is bigger than a jersey. The design may have been changed for competition, but the history behind it remains stitched into the country’s identity.
