Reports that Brazil’s national football team might wear a red jersey at the 2026 World Cup have sparked outrage across the political spectrum, especially among right-wing supporters.
The controversy began after the football website Footy Headlines published images of a red Brazil shirt, suggesting it could replace the traditional blue away kit. Though unconfirmed, the idea caused a political and cultural uproar.
For many on Brazil’s right, red symbolizes the leftist Workers’ Party (PT), President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and grassroots movements like the Landless Workers’ Movement (MST). The color is seen as anti-patriotic by supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro.
“Our team’s shirt will never be red – and neither will our country!” said Romeu Zema, a conservative governor and Bolsonaro ally, in a video where he dramatically tossed a mock-up of the red jersey to the ground.
Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the former president’s son, also denounced the rumored plan. “Our flag isn’t red – and it never will be,” he posted on social media, echoing a popular Bolsonaro-era slogan.
However, criticism of the red shirt extends beyond politics. Many football fans and sports figures, regardless of ideology, voiced concern. Some said the red jersey would disrespect Brazil’s rich football tradition, which includes five World Cup titles under the iconic yellow and blue kits.
Walter Casagrande, a former player known for his support of Lula and Brazil’s democracy movement, called the idea “idiocy.” Renowned commentator Galvão Bueno went even further, labeling it “a crime” and “a gigantic insult” to the team’s history.
Journalist Paulo Vinícius Coelho suggested the move was likely commercial. “It shows a complete lack of sense,” he said.
In response to the backlash, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) issued a statement denying the red jersey was official. The organization said next year’s World Cup kit had not yet been designed in partnership with Nike, the team’s official supplier.
Still, the rumors stirred debate among left-wing Brazilians too. While some welcomed a new look, others feared a red jersey would only deepen political divisions.
Columnist Milly Lacombe wrote a spirited defense of the color red, describing it as a symbol of “revolution, change, transformation, blood, struggle, life, death, [and] rebirth.” She said she would wear the jersey with pride.
Yet Juca Kfouri, a left-leaning football writer who avoids wearing the yellow jersey due to its association with the far right, also rejected the red design. He said it would fuel “toxic politics” around the national team’s identity. While noting that Brazil once had red in its early flag and was named after the redwood tree pau-brasil, Kfouri still argued that red doesn’t represent the country today.
He also speculated that the leaked red jersey might be a publicity stunt—a “trial balloon” to gauge fan reaction before moving forward.
“This kind of distraction helps shift attention away from the real issues,” Kfouri said, referring to CBF’s recent struggles, including its failure to hire Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti and damaging reports in local media.
As the 2026 World Cup approaches, the debate over Brazil’s jersey colors shows just how deeply football and politics remain intertwined in the country.
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