Manuel Neuer Cuts Sleeves, Breaks FIFA Dress Code In Germany Opener
Jun 15, 2026, by Chris
- Sleeve Modification: Manuel Neuer cut the sleeves off his long-sleeved goalkeeper shirt for Germany's opening 2026 World Cup match against Curaçao, despite his long-standing preference for short sleeves.
- Dress Code Violation (Sleeves): Neuer's action of cutting his sleeves appeared to violate FIFA's undergarment dress code, as the reason for the long-sleeved shirt preparation remains unknown.
- Dress Code Violation (Undergarment Color): Neuer further breached FIFA's official kit regulations by wearing a white undershirt that did not match the dominant color of his goalkeeper jersey.
Manuel Neuer cut the sleeves off his goalkeeper shirt and appeared to violate FIFA's undergarment dress code during Germany's opening 2026 World Cup match against Curaçao.
Manuel Neuer Wears Forbidden, Mismatching Undergarment
The 40-year-old Bayern Munich goalkeeper has been accustomed to wearing short-sleeved shirts for more than half a decade - even in his official World Cup profile pictures - yet Germany's kitman prepared a long-sleeved shirt for the match, leaving Neuer to cut the sleeves off himself on the day. The reason behind the long-sleeved preparation remains unknown, raising questions about the communication between Neuer and the German kit logistics team ahead of the opener.
The sleeve situation was not the only kit issue surrounding Neuer in the match, as the veteran goalkeeper also appeared to breach FIFA's undergarment regulations by wearing a white shirt underneath that did not match the dominant color of his goalkeeper jersey. According to FIFA's official kit regulations, any visible undergarment must be of the same dominant color as the item worn over it and must not display any team identifiers, manufacturer identifiers or decorative elements. Whether FIFA will take any action over the Neuer undergarment violation at the 2026 World Cup remains to be seen.
This is not the first time that Neuer has had a problem with a mismatch undershirt. Just before the kickoff of the 2024 European Championship opener, Manuel Neuer had to return to the locker room because his black undershirt looked too much like the Scottish jersey, so he had to change it.
Manuel Neuer also wore a special Legacy badge, of which we do not have high-res images yet.
What do you make of the Neuer sleeve and undergarment situation - a minor oversight or something Germany's kit team should have managed better? Let us know in the comments below.
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Spanish Primera Federación club AD Mérida has officially unveiled its new home kit for the 26-27 season, made by technical partner Macron. Launched under a campaign highlighting the club's history and regional identity, the design continues the long-standing partnership between the Extremaduran side and the Italian sportswear brand.
The AD Mérida 26-27 home shirt features a crisp white body paired with bold green sleeves and shoulders. Black and white detailing trims the sleeve cuffs and collar, which also features a dark front v-insert. The Macron Hero logo is applied in black on the right chest and shoulders, while the club crest is placed over the left chest above central sponsor lettering.
On the back, green player names and numbers with dark outlines complement the overall look, finishing a sleek design for the upcoming campaign.
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Completing the set, the Inter San Carlos 26-27 away jersey opts for a clean white base highlighted by faint feline spot graphics across the chest. Gold vertical pinstripes line the body, while green accents on the collar, sleeve cuffs, and sponsor branding finish off the design.
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National Team Crest Evolutions
Renowned football designer Emilio Sansolini (@EmilioSansolini) has published a comprehensive visual overview highlighting the evolution of national team crests around the world. Titled 'Then & Now', the graphics showcase dozens of international football federations, comparing their previous badges directly with their current modern redesigns.
The visual collection covers major footballing nations alongside smaller federations across all major continental confederations. High-profile rebrands featured in the comparison include France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Brazil, Mexico, and the United States, illustrating the widespread shift toward minimalist aesthetics, modernized heraldry, and sleeker digital styling over the past decade.
While many modern redesigns aim to create cleaner, more scalable digital logos, fan reactions to these visual shifts remain mixed. Minimalist updates for nations like Spain, Mexico, and South Korea have often sparked debate regarding traditional heritage versus modern branding, whereas updates for federations such as Iceland, Costa Rica, and Venezuela have generally received praise for introducing fresh identity concepts.
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Walsall FC and Macron have officially unveiled the club's new third kit for the 26-27 season. Completing the Saddlers' strip collection alongside the previously launched home and away uniforms, the new jersey delivers a clean look for the upcoming campaign.
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