Brazil will have a different uniform combination in their second match in the 2026 World Cup, against Haiti, this Friday (19). The team will play in black socks, blue shirt and shorts.
The debut of this uniform took place at the beginning of this month, in the last friendly to prepare for the World Cup, in the 2-1 victory over Egypt, in Cleveland (USA).
On Friday (19), Haiti will wear a white shirt, shorts and socks, in absolute contrast to Brazil’s combination.
Next, ask your questions about how the colors of the World Cup uniforms are chosen.
Are there rules for the colors of team uniforms?
As a rule, the teams send their A and B uniform combinations to FIFA, and the tournament organizer decides which one will be used in each match, always ensuring that the teams do not use similar colors, which could cause confusion.
Furthermore, the entity prohibits teams from displaying commercial sponsorships and messages considered religious or political. In this World Cup, Haiti itself had to change the design of its shirt, which included a reference to the Battle of Vertières, a milestone of the country’s independence.
What do national teams need to communicate to FIFA about their uniforms?
The teams must present to the entity at least two uniform colors, which must be different and contrasting, one lighter and the other darker.
Is it the sporting goods company that decides the colors?
They are defined in an agreement between the federations and sports equipment companies. The colors of the uniform do not necessarily have to be part of the national flag — just look at cases such as those of the Netherlands (orange uniform; red, white and blue flag), Australia (green and yellow uniform; blue, white and red flag), Japan (blue uniform; white and red flag) and Brazil itself in 2026.
On Nike’s initiative, the Brazilian team’s current uniform would have a red version, a color that is not on the country’s flag, but this shirt ended up being banned by the CBF.
Does each team choose the colors they will use in each game?
FIFA prefers that each team uses its main colors, but if there is a conflict with the opponent’s uniform, there are a series of rules to reach an acceptable contrast.
Whenever possible, the entity defines a combination of light uniforms against dark uniforms, such as Brazil and Haiti, allowing people with color blindness, for example, to follow the match more easily.
Is there a market assessment before the uniforms are launched?
The development of uniforms often begins years before launch and, like other sports materials from major brands, may include receptivity tests with small groups of fans (“focus groups”).
This does not always prevent the emergence of controversies, such as the inclusion of “Vai Brasa” on the team’s socks and training shirts this year (another idea later aborted by the CBF) and Spain’s 2018 uniform, with a vertical stripe that seemed to refer to the country’s republican flag, a monarchy.
