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The second Group F match between Japan and Tunisia will mark the 1,000th match in FIFA World Cup history. FIFA has appointed Romanian referee István Kovács to officiate this historic milestone match, which will take place at Monterrey Stadium on June 20.

A special highlight of the occasion will be the referee's commemorative uniform: a bright red jersey featuring three gold stripes on the sleeves, along with a "MATCH 1000 FIFA WORLD CUP" badge.

A special Adidas referee kit has been created for American official Tori Penso, featuring the brand's iconic three stripes customized in the United States national colors. Spotted at the 2026 World Cup game between Czechia and South Africa, the unique jersey adds a personalized, patriotic touch to the standard match official uniform.

Oddly, the stripes on the shorts did not match those of the shirt.

England have moved the front numbers on their 2026 World Cup home kit to the center of the chest, aligning the match-worn shirts with the retail versions. When the Three Lions initially debuted their Nike 2026-27 home kit earlier this year, the front numbers were unexpectedly placed on the right chest below the Swoosh, causing confusion as promotional images had shown them centered. Now, for the World Cup opener, the home kit's front numbers have been repositioned to the middle, matching the design of the away kit and Nike's original product shots.

In the World Cup 2026 match between Colombia and Uzbekistan, James Rodríguez was spotted wearing a special "Golden Boot" patch on the right sleeve of his jersey, honoring the Golden Boot award he won at the 2014 World Cup after scoring six goals, including his iconic volley against Uruguay.

All Special 2026 World Cup Player Patches Revealed

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During Croatia's match at the 2026 World Cup, Luka Modrić took to the pitch wearing a jersey featuring two unique FIFA sleeve patches. The midfielder's shirt included a special FIFA Legacy patch, introduced for the 2026 tournament to honor players who have appeared in five or more World Cups. Modrić is participating in his fifth World Cup, joining an elite group of players such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Manuel Neuer, Yuto Nagatomo, and Guillermo Ochoa, who are also eligible to wear the Legacy insignia.

In addition to the Legacy patch, Modrić's kit featured a specific badge commemorating his achievement as the winner of the Golden Ball at the 2018 World Cup. This patch highlights his individual accolade from the tournament in Russia. The combination of these two special patches makes Modrić's 2026 World Cup jersey a standout piece, reflecting his long-standing presence and success on the international stage.

During the 2026 World Cup, Harry Kane has been spotted wearing a special FIFA Golden Boot winner patch on the right sleeve of his England shirt. The patch commemorates his achievement as the top scorer of the 2018 World Cup, where he netted six goals. Kane is one of a select few players at the tournament to receive this individual honor, alongside other past Golden Boot winners such as Kylian Mbappe and James Rodriguez.

In addition to Kane's unique individual patch, the entire England squad is sporting a gold tournament sleeve patch. This team-wide detail marks their historic 1966 World Cup victory.

Cristiano Ronaldo debuted a special FIFA Legacy sleeve patch on his Portugal kit during the 2026 World Cup, marking his historic sixth tournament appearance from 2006 to 2026.

Cristiano's Legacy badge features his signature SIUU pose.

The Legacy patch is an exclusive FIFA honor introduced to recognize players who have been selected for five or more World Cup squads. Ronaldo becomes the fourth player to wear the badge at the 2026 tournament, joining an elite group that includes Lionel Messi and Luka Modric, who are also sporting the Legacy patch alongside their respective individual award badges.

In Argentina's opening match against Algeria at the 2026 World Cup, which has just concluded, goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez wore a special "Golden Gloves" patch honoring the Golden Glove award he achieved at the 2022 World Cup.

Even more interestingly, this special patch was placed on his left sleeve rather than his right sleeve, unlike the special commemorative patches worn by other players who have earned similar honors.

In France's opening match of the 2026 World Cup, Kylian Mbappé wore a special insignia on his France kit to commemorate his achievement as the top scorer of the 2022 World Cup. Following his Golden Boot win in Qatar, where he scored eight goals, the French captain's jersey now features a dedicated patch recognizing this individual accolade.

This addition comes as part of a wider trend of specialized badges seen on national team kits during the 2026 World Cup. Alongside standard tournament patches, various players have been spotted wearing insignias denoting their debut or legacy status.

On the day he became the first player ever to appear in six World Cups, Lionel Messi wears the World Cup "Legacy" patch.

Prior to this, only Manuel Neuer and Yuto Nagatomo had been honored with the prestigious "Legacy" patch.