However there was pushback towards the politicisation of Latin America’s soccer jerseys.
In Colombia, opposition figures started carrying their nation’s yellow jersey too, arguing they might not permit one political motion to say possession over it.
“What we noticed was a vulgar appropriation of the Colombia nationwide crew shirt by far-right political sectors,” Colombian politician Daniel Monroy advised Al Jazeera.
He and different politicians from the left-wing Historic Pact coalition began carrying the shirt in public, to make an announcement concerning the nationwide image.
“The three colors of our flag belong to us — and the shirt, the nationwide crew, belongs to all of us, to not anybody group,” he mentioned.
“We gained’t let it’s instrumentalised for politics. The shirt is about reminiscence, consciousness and the affirmation that our nation is free, sovereign and unbiased.”
Some supporters even printed photos of Cepeda, the Historic Pact’s candidate, and political slogans on their jerseys.
An analogous backlash performed out in Brazil throughout the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which came about days after the nation’s final presidential race.
Bolsonaro had misplaced his bid for re-election however had refused to publicly concede. Sporting the yellow jersey grew to become a supply of pressure.
“We noticed gross sales of the choice shirt, the blue shirt, rise as a result of individuals questioned whether or not or not they need to put on the yellow shirt for concern of representing the right-wing militaristic actions and Bolsonaro himself,” Clift mentioned.
With Brazil’s present presidential race heating up, the nationwide crew’s jersey is again underneath the microscope.
When Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker wore a pinkish equipment throughout a World Cup group-stage match towards Haiti, some on social media interpreted it as a reference to the political left, typically represented by the color crimson.
![Paulo Duarte showcases his collection of football jerseys [Courtesy of Paulo Duarte]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Paulo-Duarte-collects-football-shirts-and-feels-frustrated-the-national-shirt-has-become-politicised-CREDIT-Paulo-Duarte-1784144357.jpg?w=770&quality=80)
Nonetheless, left-wing voters should not able to give up the yellow jersey. Gardennya Linard, a instructor and constant supporter of the Brazilian nationwide crew, believes Bolsonaro’s declare on the jersey has grown weaker.
“For a couple of years, the Brazilian nationwide crew jersey grew to become politicised, making us really feel ashamed to put on it,” mentioned Linard.
“The Brazilian left has regularly reclaimed the yellow jersey — whether or not by including crimson symbols or carrying it in its authentic kind — to indicate that Brazil belongs to Brazilians, to not the Bolsonarista proper.”
Others have uninterested in the struggle over the soccer equipment. Regardless of expectations for a tense election in October, Duarte — the soccer shirt salesman — mentioned he gained’t let the political machinations intervene with what he loves most.
“I am pissed off with politics, nevertheless it’s not going to affect my ardour for soccer. That is one thing that I am one hundred pc positive of,” Duarte mentioned.
