FIFA Orders Egypt to Remove Seven Stars and Change Kit Numbers Before World Cup

Egypt has been instructed to remove seven stars and replace their gold shirt numbers with plain white just days before their World Cup opener against Belgium, following FIFA’s enforcement of strict kit regulations.

The seven stars on Egypt’s jerseys symbolize their record seven Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) titles, a point of pride for the team. However, FIFA’s uniform rules prohibit displaying continental championship stars during the World Cup, permitting only stars that represent World Cup victories.

Alongside the removal of the stars, FIFA has mandated the replacement of Egypt’s traditional gold shirt numbers with white ones. Officials stated that the metallic gold numbers did not meet visibility standards required for referees and broadcasters during matches.

This enforcement is part of a broader crackdown on kit designs, with FIFA recently intervening in Haiti’s World Cup preparations. Haiti was compelled to alter their jersey after FIFA determined that certain graphics could be interpreted as political statements, violating the tournament’s neutrality policies.

Egypt’s first match in the tournament is scheduled for Monday, June 15, against Belgium. They will then face New Zealand and Iran in Group G as they aim to advance to the knockout stages.

This World Cup marks Egypt’s fourth appearance in the tournament, returning after missing the previous edition. Mohamed Salah, recently departed from Liverpool, will captain the team under coach Hossam Hassan. This will be Salah’s second World Cup finals, having previously played in Russia 2018, where Egypt exited after three losses in the group stage.

With this appearance, Salah and the Egyptian squad seek to avoid a repeat of their previous early exit and aim for their first-ever advancement to the knockout rounds.