World Cup 2026: Egypt’s kit mocked amid global rankings ahead of tournament

As the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup comes to an end, sportswear manufacturers have been competing to produce eye-catching national team jerseys that blend modern design with cultural identity.

While some kits have been warmly received by fans and experts, others have generated criticism and even ridicule.

Several national teams have already unveiled their new jerseys during pre-tournament friendly matches ahead of the World Cup, which kicks off on Thursday with the opening fixture between Mexico and South Africa.

Athletic Ranks World Cup Jerseys

In a comprehensive assessment of the home kits of all 48 teams participating in the tournament, The Athletic ranked the jerseys from worst to best based on design, originality and overall appeal.

According to the ranking, Croatia’s jersey finished at the bottom of the list, while Ghana’s kit emerged as the top-rated design. Morocco and Saudi Arabia also received widespread praise, finishing fifth and sixth, respectively.

Morocco’s Design Receives High Praise

The publication was particularly impressed with Morocco’s home shirt, commending manufacturer Puma for delivering a unique design.

“Hail to Puma, because most of the other manufacturers whose teams participated in the African Cup of Nations provided them with similar kits, while all of Puma’s teams wear completely new kits.”

The report continued: “This particular kit is a masterpiece, with a distinctive collar, a wonderful colour, and exquisite embroidery inspired by traditional Moroccan fabric designs. Perhaps someone will like this kit so much that they will allow them to participate in another African Cup of Nations or something similar.”

Saudi Arabia’s Kit Also Impresses

Saudi Arabia’s jersey was also among the standout designs in the ranking.

The newspaper described the shirt as excellent, highlighting its decorative patterns inspired by the classic game Tetris. According to the report, the design successfully combines elements of traditional Saudi art with a modern aesthetic.

Egypt’s Jersey Becomes Subject of Mockery

One of the most talked about entries in the ranking was Egypt’s home shirt, which placed 44th overall and ranked lowest among the Arab nations competing at the tournament.

“This kit is perhaps the funniest in this World Cup. It seems that Puma tried to incorporate some symbolic images related to Egypt. It opened the Wikipedia page for Egypt and cleverly pointed out the existence of pyramids there.”

The publication added: “But they also somehow managed to make it look like those Facebook memes. All of this doesn’t necessarily make it a bad outfit… just a funny one. Which probably wasn’t their intention.”

Arab Teams’ Positions in the Ranking

Among the remaining Arab nations, Tunisia’s jersey was ranked 24th, Iraq’s 25th, Jordan’s 28th, Qatar’s 39th and Algeria’s 41st.

At the top end of the standings, Ghana’s kit secured first place, ahead of Brazil, England and Germany, whose jerseys completed the leading positions in the overall ranking.