The administrative staff of the Egyptian national football team revealed the truth about what has been circulating in recent hours regarding the removal of the stars from the "Pharaohs'" jersey during participation in the 2026 World Cup.
The administrative body explained in an official statement that, in light of what has been circulating regarding the national team's jerseys, the Egyptian Football Association received a letter several months ago from the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) stating that it is not permissible to place the stars of continental championships on the national team's jerseys during the World Cup competitions, in accordance with the regulations of the tournament, which apply to all participating teams.
The statement added that the Egyptian Federation was aware of this decision in advance and that the necessary arrangements had been made in coordination with the relevant authorities, stressing that the matter did not represent any surprise before the start of the tournament.
He noted that FIFA also requested that the national team's jersey numbers be changed to white instead of gold to ensure better visibility during matches and television broadcasts, which is a standard organizational procedure.
In this context, Puma, the manufacturer of the national team's sportswear, implemented the required modifications in accordance with the regulations approved by FIFA.
The Egyptian national team is the most decorated team in the history of the African Cup of Nations with 7 titles, which is reflected in the team's jersey, which is adorned with seven stars symbolizing the number of its continental championships.
According to FIFA regulations, the stars placed on national team jerseys in the World Cup are only related to the number of times the team has won the global tournament and not to any other continental or regional championships, which necessitated removing the seven stars from the national team jersey during the 2026 World Cup competition.
It is worth noting that the Egyptian national team is in Group G of the World Cup, along with Belgium, New Zealand and Iran. The Pharaohs will begin their journey in the tournament against Belgium at 10 pm on Monday, June 15.
