Egypt is yet another World Cup participant that must alter its jersey before its first match. FIFA took issue with two specific points.
Following Haiti, the Egyptian national team will also have to compete in the 2026 World Cup with a modified jersey. As the national soccer association announced, FIFA has banned the seven stars that normally shine above the logo on the front of the jersey. These represent the Pharaohs’ seven Africa Cup of Nations titles (1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, and 2010), making them the record-holding champions of the continental competition.
Accordingly, the world governing body only permits stars symbolizing World Cup titles at World Cups. Record-holding World Cup champion Brazil is therefore allowed to wear its five on the jersey, while the German national team may wear four. Egypt, however, like many of the other 48 participants, must do without them. This also applies to Senegal, among others, which still took the field in the warm-up matches with two Africa Cup of Nations stars.
The Egyptian Football Association, in collaboration with equipment supplier Puma, even had to comply with a second directive: The originally gold jersey numbers violate FIFA regulations, which place great emphasis on good contrast, especially for TV viewers. Instead, the jersey numbers for Mohamed Salah & Co. will now be white.
The federation calls it routine
The federation was apparently not caught off guard by the change requests. As the federation explained, FIFA had already sent a corresponding notice four months ago. It was merely a “routine step,” and the necessary precautions had been taken in a timely manner.
FIFA had already announced details regarding World Cup jersey colors over a week ago—and even then, the Egyptian jersey no longer featured stars. Coach Hossam Hassan’s team will kick off against Belgium on Monday (9 p.m.) in their white alternate jerseys, before taking the field against both New Zealand (June 22, 3 a.m.) and Iran in their red home kits.
