How World Cup football jerseys became political fashion in Latin America

How World Cup football jerseys became political fashion in Latin America is illustrated by the experiences of Paulo Duarte, a Brazilian fan in Bogotá who collects national team shirts and sells them online. Duarte, 39, said he packs Brazil’s yellow-and-green jersey when traveling and links it to cultural conversations, including football legends such as Neymar and Pelé. In Brazil, however, he described the kit as caught in political battles, with the far right trying to claim the uniform amid backlash from the left. With presidential elections approaching in October, the article notes that Jair Bolsonaro was associated with the jersey during his 2019-2023 presidency, and that his eldest son, Flávio Bolsonaro, later called it “Bolsonaro’s jersey.” Colombia is cited as a parallel case, where right-wing president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella used the national kit to project patriotism and unity. Sociologist Bryan Clift argues football shirts can amplify popular nationalism due to the sport’s cultural centrality in the region.