FIFA

Germany goalkeeper Oliver Baumann has publicly spoken out against FIFA's commercialization, pointing to a controversial practice involving temporary kit badges at the 2026 World Cup. In a recent interview with BILD, the goalkeeper criticized what German media have dubbed "Trikot Gate," shedding light on how players' match jerseys were handled for profit behind the scenes.

According to Baumann, FIFA applied special commemorative patches to player shirts before matches, labeling players with titles like "Legacy" or "Debutant." However, immediately after matches, staff entered the dressing room to peel those badges off the jerseys. Frustrated by the process, Baumann stated that players just wanted to keep their authentic kits intact rather than having them stripped.

Baumann did not play a match in the 2026 World Cup. Those badges are removed from the kits to be later part of trading cards, as part of a deal with Topps. However, it remains to be seen if badges of players who finally did not make a debut will be made into cards, or if it was just removed because of the streamlined process.

The goalkeeper appealed to governing bodies to prioritize the sport itself over endless commercial initiatives. Baumann warned that excessive commercialization, from stripped kit patches to unnecessary breaks, threatens to alienate fans and players who care about the tradition and passion of football.

FIFA Kit Creator has expanded their extensive template library with a large batch of brand-new jersey structures.

The latest update introduces base designs for the upcoming 26-27 season alongside classic retro cuts from iconic past eras. Creators matteuscm and KARAVASHKIN contributed heavily to this release, bringing fresh builds across major manufacturers including Adidas, Nike, Puma, Castore, Hummel, and Umbro. Among the modern additions are official base templates for upcoming club kits such as the Adidas 26-27 AS Roma and Tiro 27 cuts, the Nike 26-27 SC Freiburg template, Castore 26-27 Everton home layout, and new Puma designs for Palmeiras and Fluminense.

Updated national team templates for Ireland, Denmark, Indonesia, and DR Congo are also now available for creators to customize.

Beyond contemporary 26-27 cuts, the update adds several famous historical templates. Users can create concepts using nostalgic patterns like the Adidas 2004 Greece home template, the 05-06 AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen cuts, Nike 2010 and 2014 Brazil silhouettes, and Puma 2006 Italy away template.

All new template options are live and available on FIFA Kit Creator.

Following Spain's 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, a new tradition has been introduced to the tournament's post-match celebrations. FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented the first-ever FIFA World Cup championship ring, drawing inspiration from the rings traditionally awarded in major North American sports leagues.

Spanish midfielder Rodri, who was instrumental in his nation's success and also claimed the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, was pictured showing off the newly introduced piece of jewelry. The introduction of the World Cup championship ring marks a significant addition to the traditional medals and trophy presentation, providing players with a highly detailed, personalized commemorative item to celebrate their achievement on football's biggest stage.

FIFA Announces First-Ever World Cup Championship Rings for 2026 Winners

Jul 17, 2026

It is just a little more than two days until the 2026 World Cup final and 45 hours until the Third Place match, but FIFA has not yet published the kit matchups for the final two games of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on its official FWC2026 Match Colours Designation page.

It is widely predicted that Spain and Argentina will both wear their home kits, as will England vs France. We might also see special referee kits. Thanks to our partners Jersey Story for the collage.

In a historic first for international football, FIFA has announced that the winners of the 2026 World Cup will be awarded bespoke championship rings in addition to the iconic trophy and gold medals. Taking direct inspiration from established American sporting traditions like those seen in the NBA, NFL, and MLB, the governing body is bringing the concept of the victory ring to the global game.

Following the 2026 final between Spain and Argentina at the New York New Jersey Stadium, the winning team's captain and head coach will immediately receive temporary rings to commemorate the occasion during the post-match celebrations.

A total of exactly 2,026 individually numbered rings will be produced to mark the year of the tournament. Of this limited-edition collection, 30 rings are strictly reserved for the victorious squad and its staff. These official team rings will undergo custom production after the final to ensure a perfect fit for each player and staff member before being formally presented at a later date.

The design of the championship rings features the FIFA World Cup trophy proudly displayed on one side. The opposite side of the ring will be customized to reflect the crest and visual identity of the winning nation, ensuring each piece serves as a unique tribute to their achievement.

Football fans will also have the opportunity to own a piece of this newly established tradition. The remaining 1,996 rings from the collection will be made available for purchase worldwide as an officially licensed product. Each fan ring will be assigned a unique number, custom-fitted, and delivered with its own official certificate of authenticity.

EA Sports has officially unveiled the cover for the FC 27 Ultimate Edition, confirming that Kylian Mbappe will be the face of this year's game. The announcement was made across social media on July 21, marking Mbappe's return as the primary cover athlete for the popular football gaming franchise.

Mbappé previously featured on the covers of FIFA 21, FIFA 22, and FIFA 23 before the series transitioned to the EA Sports FC branding.

The official cover image showcases Mbappe prominently, generating significant excitement among fans ahead of the game's expected release around September. Following this initial cover reveal, EA Sports has scheduled a full official reveal event for July 23, where fans can expect to see the first detailed footage and learn about new features coming to the FC 27 title.

Germany goalkeeper Oliver Baumann has publicly spoken out against FIFA's commercialization, pointing to a controversial practice involving temporary kit badges at the 2026 World Cup. In a recent interview with BILD, the goalkeeper criticized what German media have dubbed "Trikot Gate," shedding light on how players' match jerseys were handled for profit behind the scenes.

According to Baumann, FIFA applied special commemorative patches to player shirts before matches, labeling players with titles like "Legacy" or "Debutant." However, immediately after matches, staff entered the dressing room to peel those badges off the jerseys. Frustrated by the process, Baumann stated that players just wanted to keep their authentic kits intact rather than having them stripped.

Baumann did not play a match in the 2026 World Cup. Those badges are removed from the kits to be later part of trading cards, as part of a deal with Topps. However, it remains to be seen if badges of players who finally did not make a debut will be made into cards, or if it was just removed because of the streamlined process.

The goalkeeper appealed to governing bodies to prioritize the sport itself over endless commercial initiatives. Baumann warned that excessive commercialization, from stripped kit patches to unnecessary breaks, threatens to alienate fans and players who care about the tradition and passion of football.

FIFA Kit Creator has expanded their extensive template library with a large batch of brand-new jersey structures.

The latest update introduces base designs for the upcoming 26-27 season alongside classic retro cuts from iconic past eras. Creators matteuscm and KARAVASHKIN contributed heavily to this release, bringing fresh builds across major manufacturers including Adidas, Nike, Puma, Castore, Hummel, and Umbro. Among the modern additions are official base templates for upcoming club kits such as the Adidas 26-27 AS Roma and Tiro 27 cuts, the Nike 26-27 SC Freiburg template, Castore 26-27 Everton home layout, and new Puma designs for Palmeiras and Fluminense.

Updated national team templates for Ireland, Denmark, Indonesia, and DR Congo are also now available for creators to customize.

Beyond contemporary 26-27 cuts, the update adds several famous historical templates. Users can create concepts using nostalgic patterns like the Adidas 2004 Greece home template, the 05-06 AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen cuts, Nike 2010 and 2014 Brazil silhouettes, and Puma 2006 Italy away template.

All new template options are live and available on FIFA Kit Creator.

EA Sports has officially unveiled the cover for the FC 27 Ultimate Edition, confirming that Kylian Mbappe will be the face of this year's game. The announcement was made across social media on July 21, marking Mbappe's return as the primary cover athlete for the popular football gaming franchise.

Mbappé previously featured on the covers of FIFA 21, FIFA 22, and FIFA 23 before the series transitioned to the EA Sports FC branding.

The official cover image showcases Mbappe prominently, generating significant excitement among fans ahead of the game's expected release around September. Following this initial cover reveal, EA Sports has scheduled a full official reveal event for July 23, where fans can expect to see the first detailed footage and learn about new features coming to the FC 27 title.

Following Spain's 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, a new tradition has been introduced to the tournament's post-match celebrations. FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented the first-ever FIFA World Cup championship ring, drawing inspiration from the rings traditionally awarded in major North American sports leagues.

Spanish midfielder Rodri, who was instrumental in his nation's success and also claimed the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, was pictured showing off the newly introduced piece of jewelry. The introduction of the World Cup championship ring marks a significant addition to the traditional medals and trophy presentation, providing players with a highly detailed, personalized commemorative item to celebrate their achievement on football's biggest stage.

FIFA Announces First-Ever World Cup Championship Rings for 2026 Winners

Jul 17, 2026

In a historic first for international football, FIFA has announced that the winners of the 2026 World Cup will be awarded bespoke championship rings in addition to the iconic trophy and gold medals. Taking direct inspiration from established American sporting traditions like those seen in the NBA, NFL, and MLB, the governing body is bringing the concept of the victory ring to the global game.

Following the 2026 final between Spain and Argentina at the New York New Jersey Stadium, the winning team's captain and head coach will immediately receive temporary rings to commemorate the occasion during the post-match celebrations.

A total of exactly 2,026 individually numbered rings will be produced to mark the year of the tournament. Of this limited-edition collection, 30 rings are strictly reserved for the victorious squad and its staff. These official team rings will undergo custom production after the final to ensure a perfect fit for each player and staff member before being formally presented at a later date.

The design of the championship rings features the FIFA World Cup trophy proudly displayed on one side. The opposite side of the ring will be customized to reflect the crest and visual identity of the winning nation, ensuring each piece serves as a unique tribute to their achievement.

Football fans will also have the opportunity to own a piece of this newly established tradition. The remaining 1,996 rings from the collection will be made available for purchase worldwide as an officially licensed product. Each fan ring will be assigned a unique number, custom-fitted, and delivered with its own official certificate of authenticity.

It is just a little more than two days until the 2026 World Cup final and 45 hours until the Third Place match, but FIFA has not yet published the kit matchups for the final two games of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on its official FWC2026 Match Colours Designation page.

It is widely predicted that Spain and Argentina will both wear their home kits, as will England vs France. We might also see special referee kits. Thanks to our partners Jersey Story for the collage.

Recent iterations of the World Cup winners patch have a noticeable decline in quality, as highlighted by our follower @AmosMurphy_. What was once a premium, beautifully textured addition to a national team shirt has now been reduced to a standard, flat heat-pressed decal.

The shift towards cheaper materials on major international kits stands in stark contrast to other areas of the football shirt market, where we see embossed details and multilayer 3D crest more often.

FIFA has introduced a new sleeve patch for the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup. The Unite for Peace patch worn during the group stages has been replaced with a "Football Unites the World" patch starting from the Round of 32. Thanks to @TheShirtUnion.

During Uruguay's 2026 World Cup match against Spain, goalkeeper Fernando Muslera took to the pitch wearing a special Legacy Patch on his jersey. This exclusive badge is reserved by FIFA for players who have participated in at least five World Cup tournaments. Muslera's appearance at the 2026 tournament marks his fifth inclusion in a World Cup squad, following his selections for South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, and Qatar 2022.

The inclusion of the badge was initially in doubt, as Muslera did not play any minutes during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Sergio Rochet started in goal. However, the Uruguayan Football Association submitted a formal petition to FIFA to recognize his squad selection as a full participation. FIFA officially approved the request, allowing the veteran goalkeeper to sport the Legacy Patch.

Uruguay Requests FIFA 'Legacy' Patch for Muslera's 2026 World Cup Kit

Jun 16, 2026