Significance of the Gold Badge and Stars on World Cup Jerseys
During Brazil’s opening match against Morocco at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, fans noticed a unique difference in the teams’ jerseys. Brazil wore their iconic yellow jerseys with an eye-catching gold version of the 2026 FIFA World Cup logo on the sleeve. In contrast, Morocco’s shirts bore a standard white logo.
FIFA introduced a badge system for the 2026 tournament. Most teams wear the standard logo, but a select few, like Brazil, don a gold variation to reflect their storied past in football.
Why Brazil Gets a Gold Badge on Their Sleeve
FIFA recognizes global success visually. The first step was the FIFA Champions Badge, a gold-and-white emblem for reigning world champions across national and club levels, including the men’s and women’s World Cups and the Club World Cup.
For 2026, FIFA expanded the concept. Any nation that previously won the tournament wears a gold logo, distinguishing them from others. Brazil, the most successful World Cup team, having won five titles starting in 1958, proudly wears this badge. Their latest victory was in 2002, led by striker Ronaldo.
Despite this, the gold badge signifies the pressure on Brazil’s current players. It’s been 24 years since their last win. Eight nations have the right to wear the gold badge. Germany, last winning in 2014, Argentina, current holders, France, 2018 champions, and Spain, 2010 victors, all feature the badge. Uruguay, with wins in 1930 and 1950, and England, champions in 1966, also sport it. Italy, four-time winners, are notable absentees, missing the 2026 finals and absent since 2014.
Why Some Teams Wear Stars on Their Shirts
Teams also showcase success through stars above their crest. Usually, each star represents a World Cup victory. Uruguay, however, display four stars, including Olympic titles from 1924 and 1928, seen as early world championships.
The stars aren’t strictly regulated by FIFA but are widely accepted. They offer fans a quick glimpse at a team’s achievements, akin to the gold badge highlighting previous World Cup wins.