England's World Cup 2026 campaign begins with a match against Croatia, but 18 players will wear different shirts from their teammates due to a new FIFA initiative.
Why Are Some England Players Wearing Different Shirts?
The Three Lions start their World Cup journey with a group match against Croatia at the Dallas Stadium in Texas. This is the first competitive match under manager Thomas Tuchel. Observant fans will notice an unusual uniform variation on the pitch.
FIFA partnered with American collectables company Topps to introduce a novel shirt emblem system. Inspired by US sports keepsakes, this initiative was designed for the expanded tournament to honor players making their World Cup debuts.
How the Badges Work
These tangible badges are pressed onto the right sleeve of the jersey with sticky backing before the match. Each sticker features the phrase "DEBUT FIFA WORLD CUP" below a prominent gold 2026 emblem. After the game, officials peel off the temporary emblems and fuse them into limited-edition Topps sports cards for collectors.
Which England Players Have the Badge?
Viewers will see a clear contrast across the uniforms of 18 specific England squad members. If they participate, these tournament newcomers will sport the custom insignia while seasoned players wear standard jerseys.
Rookies listed: Anthony Gordon, Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, Marc Guehi, Ivan Toney, Kobbie Mainoo, Eberechi Eze, Dean Henderson, Dan Burn, Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Trevoh Chalobah, Nico O'Reilly, Jarell Quansah, Djed Spence, Elliot Anderson, Noni Madueke, and James Trafford. Chelsea's Chalobah joined late as a replacement for the injured Tino Livramento.
Seasoned pros (no badge): The remaining eight senior players in the 26-man squad will wear ordinary jerseys due to previous tournament appearances: Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Declan Rice, Jordan Pickford, John Stones, Marcus Rashford, and Jordan Henderson.
Upcoming Matches
After facing Croatia, England will play Ghana on June 23 and then conclude their group stage against Panama.
