FIFA demands country re-design kit 3 days before opening game for breaking 'political statement' rule

One nation has been told to re-design their kit for the World Cup just three days before their opening game.

The 2026 World Cup finally kicks-off on Thursday when co-hosts Mexico take on South Africa but the build-up to the tournament has been mired in off-field controversy.

Obscene prices for tickets, accommodation and beer inside stadiums have enraged supporters, while players from multiple teams have struggled to even enter the USA, with Iran being forced to stay in Mexico despite their group games taking place in the States.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino called for people to 'chill' in his pre-tournament press conference, but yet another negative story will only serve to anger the football community further.

Haiti are competing in their first World Cup in 1974 but have now been told to change their tournament kits after objections from FIFA.

The blue home shirts - which also come in white for the away and red for the third - designed by kit suppler Saeta, working with the Haitian Football Federation, featured a depiction the Battle of Vertières on the front.

Taking place in 1803, the famous conflict was significant in securing Haiti's independence from France the following year.

Ironically, Haiti secured their place in this summer's tournament on the 222nd anniversary of the battle in a 2-0 win over Nicaragua.

Further visual elements referencing the Caribbean country's revolutionary founding have seen the kit fall afoul of FIFA's rules around political symbols.

Saeta said in a statement on Instagram: "During the review process, FIFA determined that certain visual elements could be interpreted differently under its equipment regulations and ultimately requested modification to the design.

"The final design 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."

All three of the kits had sold out on Saeta's website before the ban.

Though Haiti get their World Cup campaign underway against Scotland in Dallas on June 14, and wore the banned kits in two pre-tournament friendlies, a redesign of the jersey has already been completed.

Defender Jean-Kevin Duverne was spotted wearing the new blue shirt that does not feature artwork of the battle.

FIFA's official regulation 28.1 on Kit and Colours Approval states: "The display of political, religious, or personal messages or slogans of any nature in any language or form by players and team officials on their playing, team kits or other clothing considered as outerwear and formal attire, before and after playing, and equipment (including kit bags, beverage containers, medical bags, etc.) or body is prohibited."