WORLD CUP 2026 is underway in North America, and fans have spotted that different teams and players are donning different patches on their sleeves at the tournament.
The designs are brand new for this summer’s ing extravaganza.
Lionel Messi and Argentina will wear a special badge this summer Credit: Getty
Spain’s Lamine Yamal is also wearing a special patch on his sleeve Credit: Getty
has all the answers surrounding the special sleeves at World Cup 2026.
What are the different patches that teams are wearing at World Cup 2026?
The special patches are a new introduction from Fifa for the 2026 tournament.
The designs will eventually be put into Topps trading cards under a new deal that was made with Fifa president and Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin.
This follows a similar pattern to the , NBA and MLB, where rookies wore debut patches for their first games – the patches were then incorporated into trading cards which can be very valuable.
This has been adapted for the World Cup, with players wearing a range of different designs.
Gold World Cup 2026 logo patch
Every team at the tournament wears a World Cup logo patch on their sleeve, with it being in either white or black depending on the colour of the kit.
However, teams who have won the competition before are able to wear a gold version of this patch.
Positioned on the right sleeve, the exclusive badge visually sets past champions apart from the other nations and highlights tournament heritage without compromising the crests.
Below are all of the teams who can wear the gold patch at this summer’s tournament.
- Argentina (2022, 1986, 1978)
- France (2018, 1998)
- Germany (2014, 1990, 1974, 1954)
- Brazil (2002, 1994, 1970, 1962, 1958)
- Uruguay (1950, 1930)
- Spain (2010)
- England (1966)
Uruguay’s Federico Valverde wearing the exclusive champions patch Credit: Getty
Debut patch
As well as the gold logo patch, players who are appearing in their first World Cup will be wearing a commemorative debut patch to highlight this.
The smaller design sits below the logo on the players’ right sleeve.
It features the World Cup trophy, as well as saying ‘DEBUT FIFA WORLD CUP’.
It has been seen on players across the tournament, including Spain’s teenage superstar .
Lamine Yamal wearing the debut patch againt Cape Verde Credit: Getty
Legacy patch
This patch is worn only by players who have appeared in five or more World Cup tournaments.
In a similar design to the debut patch, it sits below the World Cup 2026 logo on the right sleeve, but has the country’s flag on it rather than the trophy.
However, goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa did not wear this patch despite being a part of six tournaments – he has only played in three.
There is an exclusive list of players who can don this feature in North America.
- Luka Modric – Croatia
- Yuto Nagatomo – Japan
- Manuel Neuer – Germany
- Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal
- Lionel Messi – Argentina
The legacy patch on Yuto Nagatomo’s Japan shirt Credit: Getty
Golden Boot winner’s patch
This one explains itself – it can only be worn by players who have won the World Cup Golden Boot award at a previous tournament.
Only three players who are featuring this year can wear them.
Those include for his eight goals at Qatar 2022, when France got to the final before losing to Argentina.
Harry Kane won the award in 2018, scoring six goals on route to the semi-finals.
The final player is James Rodriguez, who netted six times for Colombia in Brazil in 2014.
Golden Glove winner’s patch
Similar to the Golden Boot patch, this one is reserved for goalkeepers who have been named the best shot stopper at the tournament.
The award was brought in for the 1994 tournament in the USA, and was previously known as the Award.
The design sits below the logo patch, and depicts a crest with a glove in the middle.
Three goalkeepers are eligible to wear it.
- Emiliano Martinez (Argentina) – Qatar 2022
- Thibaut Courtois (Belgium) – Russia 2018
- Manuel Neuer (Germany) – Brazil 2014
Thibaut Courtois wearing the Golden Glove patch Credit: Reuters
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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