The Belgium national team took to the pitch against Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals wearing its alternate kit instead of its traditional red shirt. More than just an alternative design, the jersey served as a tribute to one of Belgium’s most celebrated cultural figures, René Magritte.
In recent years, the Royal Belgian Football Association has used World Cup kits to celebrate the country’s cultural heritage. After previous designs inspired by Eddy Merckx, Tintin, and Tomorrowland, Belgium chose to honor the legendary Surrealist painter René Magritte for the 2026 tournament.
Inspired by Magritte’s iconic artworks
The light blue jersey featuring white cloud patterns drew inspiration from Magritte’s renowned painting La Voix des Airs (The Voice of Space). The design incorporated the artist’s signature sky and cloud imagery, blending his surrealist vision with modern football aesthetics.
Inside the shirt, designers added the phrase “Ceci n’est pas un maillot” (“This is not a jersey”), referencing Magritte’s famous masterpiece The Treachery of Images, which bears the inscription “Ceci n’est pas une pipe” (“This is not a pipe”). As a result, the kit became more than sportswear—it also served as a tribute to Belgian art and cultural identity.
Cultural storytelling extended across the World Cup
Belgium’s Magritte-inspired shirt was not the only culturally themed kit at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- Japan featured 12 multicolored stripes on its away jersey, symbolizing the 11 players on the field and the supporters as the “12th player.”
- Ghana incorporated Ananse, the legendary spider from Akan folklore, into its design.
- Mexico once again referenced its historical heritage by featuring motifs inspired by the Aztec Sun Stone.
Football and art came together on the world’s biggest stage
Belgium wore the Magritte-inspired kit once again against Spain after previously using it during the knockout rounds of the tournament. The design emerged as one of the most distinctive jerseys of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, demonstrating how football shirts can also serve as powerful expressions of national culture and artistic heritage.