Japan and Tunisia wore special patches on their kits at the 2026 World Cup to mark a milestone match, according to Sport 5. The article says FIFA chose to commemorate the occasion on the uniforms, as it has done repeatedly during the tournament with other special visual tributes.
The match between Japan and Tunisia was the 1,000th game in World Cup history. The patch was not awarded for a sporting achievement by either team, but specifically because of the number of the match in the tournament's all-time record.
The report places the tribute in the context of a World Cup already full of uniform embellishments, including Argentina star Lionel Messi’s gold-trimmed kit and special patches worn by Kylian Mbappe, Emiliano Martinez and James Rodriguez. The article was published by Sport 5 on June 21, 2026, at 08:52.