Haiti World Cup jersey rejected by FIFA preserved at national museum

PORT-AU-PRINCE — The Haitian national football team jersey, banned by FIFA 2026 World Cup because it featured imagery from the Battle of Vertières has found a permanent home at the Museum of the Haitian National Pantheon (MUPANAH), where officials say it will be preserved as part of the country’s national heritage.

The Haiti team white jersey with its original design was transferred to the museum on June 13 just hours before Les Grenadiers played Scotland in their first World Cup match in 52 years. 

MUPANAH officials said preserving the jersey as part of the country’s historical record ensures future generations will understand not only Haiti’s return to the 2026 World Cup after more than five decades, but also the story behind one of the tournament’s most discussed uniform designs.

“By joining the MUPANAH collection, this jersey becomes a witness to contemporary Haitian history and to the pride that our Grenadiers inspire across the entire nation,” said museum officials.

The jersey pays tribute to one of Haiti’s defining historical moments. On the front, it features a depiction of national heroes alongside Haiti’s blue and red flag, symbolizing the triumph of the Indigenous Army at the Battle of Vertières against the French forces. Above the soldier’s image the date Nov. 18, 1803, written in Roman numerals, and the national motto, L’Union fait la force. Palm tree motifs remained on the back as a reference to Haiti’s landscape.

FIFA determined that the historical artwork violated its equipment regulations prohibiting political, religious or personal messages on team uniforms. As a result, SAETA, Haiti’s official kit supplier, removed nearly all references to the Battle of Vertières before the World Cup began.

“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,” SAETA said in a statement on June 9. 

After FIFA’s decision, some supporters expressed frustration and denounced what they saw as an attempt to suppress Haiti’s history. They questioned FIFA’s claim of political neutrality, accusing FIFA President Gianni Infantino of hypocrisy. 

Jane Decat, like many observers, argued that other countries have displayed historical references. 

“Other countries, like Mexico, have imagery on their jerseys that references political and historical messages, but FIFA has not asked them to remove those symbols,” she said.

Sociologist Wilkens Pierre said the Battle of Vertières represents one of the most significant moments in Haiti’s national memory, making its appearance on a global stage especially meaningful.

“A national team jersey is never just a piece of clothing,” Pierre said. “It carries a history, symbols and a collective identity.”

From the field to the museum

Four days after FIFA ordered the changes, Haiti’s Ministry of Culture and Communication declared the original jersey part of the country’s national heritage and transferred it to MUPANAH.

MUPANAH officials said the jersey is being preserved not as sports memorabilia alone, but as an artifact linking Haiti’s football history to one of the country’s defining moments.

“This handover highlights the historic significance of Haiti’s return to this global competition,” the museum said in a statement, noting that the return comes “fifty-two years after its first and only appearance in 1974, as well as the sacrifices, efforts, and determination of our players.”

The decision drew mixed reactions online and in the comment section of MUPANAH. Some supporters praised the government for protecting a piece of Haiti’s sporting and cultural history, while others questioned why only one jersey was preserved instead of the three colors.

“It could have been in all three jersey colors, with all the players’ signatures on it, and preserved for future generations,” said Facebook user Vincent Jean-Baptiste Diakman.

The Haitian Times contacted officials at the Ministry of Culture and Communication and MUPANAH several times seeking an explanation for why only the white jersey was selected for preservation. Despite repeated requests, neither institution responded before publication.

Others remained optimistic about Haiti’s World Cup journey.

“Start making space for the trophy as well, because it’s coming our way,” said another user, Paul Emile Pierre.

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