Harry Kane is one of a select few players at the World Cup with a special patch on his sleeve… but why?
The England captain put in a stunning performance against Croatia to give the Three Lions a much-needed opening win of World Cup 2026 – and as Thomas Tuchel's key man, Kane will be vital to his country's hopes of ending 60 years of hurt this summer.
As one of the leaders of this evolving side, Kane's pedigree in World Cup football was recognised last night on his shirt.
Why Harry Kane has a specific path on his England shirt
Kane is one of a select few at this tournament who is wearing a golden patch on his shirt sleeve, and it's all down to his past goalscoring exploits at international level.
More specifically, it's because he won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Every patch at World Cup 2026
FIFA have collaborated with Fanatics and Topps to create five new patches that celebrate specific individual milestones: the Debut patch, Golden Ball patch, Golden Boot patch, Golden Glove patch and Legacy patch.
Which players are wearing the Golden Ball patch?
Only Lionel Messi (2014 and 2022) and Luka Modric (2018) have the honour of wearing the Golden Ball patch at this tournament to mark their previous accolades.
Which players are wearing the Golden Boot patch?
Only three players have been given a Golden Boot patch to mark winning the Top Scorer award at a previous World Cup: that's James Rodriguez (2014), Harry Kane (2018) and Kylian Mbappe (2022).
Which players are wearing the Golden Glove patch?
Again, only three goalkeepers at the 2026 tournament have won the Golden Glove in the past, and therefore get a patch to recognise the achievement: Manuel Neuer (2014), Thibaut Courtois (2018) and Emiliano Martinez (2022).
Neuer has, however, opted out of wearing the Golden Glove patch.
Which players are wearing a Legacy patch?
Five players have appeared in at least a fifth World Cup this week: Luka Modric (2006, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026), Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo (both 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026), Yuto Nagatomo and Manuel Neuer (both 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026).
Mexican keeper Guillermo Ochoa is appearing at a sixth tournament, too – but didn't play in either 2006 or 2010, and hasn't been given a patch.
Which players are wearing a Debut patch?
891 players are making their first-ever World Cup appearance.
The following squads are wearing a Debut patch to indicate that they have never played a minute of World Cup football:
- 🇨🇿 Czechia : First World Cup appearance since 2006
- 🇿🇦 South Africa : First World Cup appearance since 2010
- 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina : First World Cup appearance since 2014 (all except Edin Dzeko and Sead Kolasinac )
- 🏴 Scotland : First World Cup appearance since 1998
- 🇭🇹 Haiti : First World Cup appearance since 1974
- 🇵🇾 Paraguay : First World Cup appearance since 2010
- 🇹🇷 Turkey : First World Cup appearance since 2002
- 🇨🇼 Curaçao : First-ever World Cup appearance
- 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast : First World Cup appearance since 2014
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand : First World Cup appearance since 2010 (all except Chris Wood )
- 🇨🇻 Cape Verde : First-ever World Cup appearance
- 🇮🇶 Iraq : First World Cup appearance since 1986
- 🇳🇴 Norway : First World Cup appearance since 1998
- 🇦🇹 Austria : First World Cup appearance since 1998
- 🇯🇴 Jordan : First-ever World Cup appearance
- 🇨🇩 DR Congo : First World Cup appearance since 1974
- 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan : First-ever World Cup appearance
Here is a selection of some of the biggest names at the tournament wearing one for other nations:
- 🇪🇸 Lamine Yamal
- 🇦🇷 Nico Paz
- 🇧🇷 Endrick
- 🇩🇪 Florian Wirtz
- 🇫🇷 Michael Olise
- 🇫🇷 Bradley Barcola
- 🇫🇷 William Saliba
- 🏴 Marc Guehi
- 🏴 Reece James
- 🏴 Nico O'Reilly
- 🏴 Elliot Anderson
- 🇨🇮 Yan Diomande
- 🇲🇦 Bilal El Khannouss
- 🇺🇿 Abdukodir Khusanov
