Last-Minute Change! FIFA Bans Football Minnows' World Cup Jerseys

The jerseys worn by the Caribbean team in both pre-tournament warm-up matches featured an illustration of the 1803 Battle of Vertières, which secured Haiti's independence. However, equipment regulations set by football's global governing body prohibit the use of any "political, religious, or personal messages or slogans" on kits.

Colombian manufacturer Saeta stated in a declaration: "The original design was intended as a tribute to the brave men and women who contribute daily to Haiti's future and was not a political statement."

Nevertheless, FIFA determined that certain visual elements could be interpreted differently under its equipment regulations and ultimately requested design modifications. "Although this interpretation differed from our intention, Saeta respected the process and complied with FIFA's requirements," BBC Sport reported.

The Haitian national team will appear at the FIFA World Cup after a 52-year absence. The Caribbean nation will kick off its campaign on Saturday evening at Boston Stadium in Foxborough (3:00 AM Sunday morning in Slovakia) against Scotland. The other two opponents for the footballing minnows, currently ranked 83rd by FIFA, will be five-time world champions Brazil and surprise semi-finalists from four years ago, Morocco.

In their only previous World Cup appearance in 1974, Haiti lost all three group stage matches, conceding a total of 14 goals.