The Brazilian team, after recording an important victory over Haiti, is now focusing its attention on the next challenge against Scotland. The clash is scheduled for this Wednesday (24), at 7pm, at the Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami Gardens, Florida. The match represents the third and final round of the group stage, in Group C of the 2026 World Cup.
While Brazil pursues its dream sixth world championship, the memory of the historic 2002 victory remains vivid. However, a specific aspect of that campaign – the team’s uniform – resurfaced in discussion. The renowned North American website The Athletic included the piece in a compilation of the most controversial and, according to their assessment, most aesthetically questionable shirts in the history of football.
The uniform used by the Brazilian team in the fifth championship in 2002 was in tenth position in the “ugliest” ranking prepared by The Athletic. In front of the Canarinho shirt, nine other pieces were listed: Bolivia from 1930, in first place; the 1994 Netherlands goalkeeper shirt, second; that of Switzerland in 2026, in third; that of Belgium in 1982, in fourth; that of Switzerland in 2022, in fifth; that of Russia in 1994, in sixth; that of Nigeria in 1994, in seventh; and the 1994 and 2022 United States uniforms, in eighth and ninth, respectively.
A Seleção Brasileira marcou 18 gols
na Copa de 2002.
15 saíram desse trio. pic.twitter.com/GtwRutu5Ml— Sala12 (@OficialSala12) June 5, 2026
Design detail with internal layer sparked discussions
Despite the great affection that Brazilian fans have for this uniform, largely due to the glory of the fifth championship, that year’s outfit stood out at the time. It had characteristics that were far from the more conventional and traditional patterns of football shirt design.
Created by Nike, the shirt design incorporated a unique construction, with an inner layer that was integrated into the main fabric. The intention of this innovation was to provide greater muscular support and optimize players’ performance on the field, a growing trend in the development of sportswear. However, it was precisely this particularity that became one of the most widely discussed points about the model over the years.
Other controversial uniforms, including pieces from Switzerland
In addition to the Brazilian piece, other uniforms were also the target of criticism. Switzerland’s current shirt, for example, was also highlighted as one of the least attractive in the assessment made by The Athletic.
The inclusion of the Brazilian team’s shirt in lists that address controversial or bold-looking uniforms is not unprecedented in the football scene. It is common for global classifications to point out models from teams and nations that opted for designs, cuts or color palettes that deviated from the traditional.
The historic achievement of the fifth championship with the 2002 shirt
Regardless of aesthetic criticisms, the 2002 uniform has an immeasurable value in the memories of Brazilian fans. It was wearing this shirt that the Seleção achieved its fifth world championship. The campaign was perfect, with seven wins in seven matches, culminating in a 2-0 score against Germany in the grand final, held in Yokohama.
The publication of The Athletic’s list reignited debates on digital platforms, with divergent opinions among football enthusiasts. A portion of internet users agreed with the criticism of the shirt’s design, while others argued that, for them, the piece represents one of the greatest icons of the Brazilian team’s most successful generation. For many, the impact of the achievement far outweighs any discussion about the uniform’s visual appearance.