FIFA Orders Egypt to Strip Seven AFCON Stars From World Cup 2026 Jersey Before Group G Opener Against Belgium

Egypt will take to the field at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in an amended version of their traditional national jersey, after FIFA instructed the Egyptian Football Association to bring the kit into compliance with tournament regulations ahead of their opening fixture.

The most significant modification involves the removal of the seven stars positioned above the national crest on the shirt. Those stars have historically served as a symbol of Egypt’s seven Africa Cup of Nations titles — more than any other nation in the history of the continental competition.

Under FIFA’s kit regulations for the World Cup, stars featured on national team jerseys are generally reserved to denote FIFA World Cup victories rather than achievements in continental tournaments. As the governing body of world football enforces uniform standards across all participating nations, Egypt’s AFCON stars fall outside the permitted scope of decoration for World Cup kits.

FIFA has also reportedly requested changes to the gold-coloured names and squad numbers on the reverse of the jerseys, with the adjustments aimed at meeting the tournament’s visibility and uniformity standards.

The removal of the stars is a matter of kit compliance rather than any challenge to Egypt’s standing in African football history. The Pharaohs remain the most decorated side in Africa Cup of Nations history, having claimed the title on seven occasions — in 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, and 2010. No other African nation has matched that record.

Egypt are making their return to the World Cup stage after a 28-year absence, having last appeared at the tournament in 1990. Their qualification for the 2026 edition, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marked a significant moment for Egyptian football, with Mohamed Salah — who will be appearing at his first World Cup — among the headline names in the squad.

With the kit issue now addressed, the Egyptian camp can focus on the competitive challenge ahead. The Pharaohs are placed in Group G, where they face Belgium in their opening match before subsequent fixtures against New Zealand and Iran. Belgium, ranked among the more experienced sides in the group, represent a stern early test for a squad appearing on the tournament’s biggest stage for the first time in over three decades.

The development draws attention to FIFA’s stringent commercial and presentational controls over the World Cup, which extend beyond on-pitch matters to the precise appearance of team kits. National associations are required to submit kit designs for approval well in advance of the tournament, though adjustments of this nature — particularly those touching on symbols of national pride — can attract scrutiny from supporters and football observers alike.