The Political Science of Brazil's World Cup Jerseys: Red vs. Green Carries Significant Meaning

2026 World Cup Key News

(Central News Agency, Morris Town, June 23, Combined News Service) Brazil's goalkeeper Alisson Becker will wear a green jersey against Scotland in the World Cup today, instead of the red jersey originally approved by the International Football Federation (FIFA).

According to Agence France-Presse, in other countries, changing jerseys might not attract attention at all, but in football-loving Brazil, it's very different, as jersey colors have become part of a political controversy.

Brazil's iconic yellow and green jerseys have long been used as a partisan symbol by conservatives supporting the far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro lost the 2022 general election to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and was subsequently imprisoned for plotting a coup.

In an effort to win re-election in the October general election, Lula is trying to reclaim the yellow and green colors that represent the Brazilian flag. However, 'red,' a color not typically part of Brazil's team uniform, happens to be the symbolic color of the left-wing and Lula's party.

Before the tournament's opening on June 11, FIFA announced the group stage jersey colors for each team's goalkeeper. Becker was scheduled to wear a full red jersey in the final match of Group C, but the Brazilian team urgently changed the red to green before the game.

Brazilian sports media reported today that it was the President of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), Samir Xaud, who "vetoed" the red jersey. Xaud clarified in an interview with the American sports channel ESPN: "I made this request because this is something we had discussed some time ago. We prioritize the colors of the Brazilian flag."

The Brazilian Football Confederation stated in a message to Agence France-Presse today that FIFA chose the red jersey "unknowingly," but red is not part of Brazil's uniform series for this tournament.

In Brazil, some people deliberately avoid wearing yellow and green jerseys to avoid association with Bolsonaro and his political movement. Meanwhile, others on the left have switched to wearing unofficial red merchandise featuring the CBF badge or communist symbols. (Compiled by Zhang Mingxuan) 1150624

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