JEDDAH: With the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026, excitement is building among football fans around the globe, as jersey shops across the Kingdom are witnessing a surge in demand as fans flock to stores to buy jerseys of their favourite teams.
A visit by Arab News to Jeddah’s sports market presents a vivid picture of the fans’ football passion. Shops, showrooms and makeshift roadside stalls are decorated with colourful national team jerseys and flags.
Saudi Arab’s green World Cup 2026 shirt, inspired by the country’s cultural heritage, Spain’s traditional vivid red combined with dark blue accents and subtle pinstripes, the sky-blue and white stripes of Argentina, and the iconic yellow and green of Brazil are displayed on storefronts.
Sports shop salesman Khalid Saeed told Arab News that fans are eager to buy the latest jerseys of their favorite national teams: “The demand is big and better than ever because the mentality of football fans has changed, unlike the old times,” Khalid said. “Some customers are buying jerseys for the entire family.
“Saudi Arabia, Argentina and Brazil jerseys are the top sellers, followed by Spain, Portugal and France. Sales have increased considerably compared to previous months, and we expect demand to grow further during the World Cup,” he said.
Anis Rafiq, a salesman, said that compared with the previous World Cup, the number of people collecting merchandise from participating teams has increased by about 30 percent this year.
“Sales are much better than usual. Every day, more customers are coming. Once the tournament begins, demand will increase even further,” he said.
He pointed out that there are three types of jerseys for each team: home, away and practice jerseys. Of the three, the home jerseys are high in demand compared with the two others.
For many fans, buying a jersey is more than a fashion statement. It is a symbol of pride, identity, and belonging. Whether watching matches in packed fan zones, local cafes, or living rooms, supporters wanted to feel connected to their countries or their favorite teams.
Mohammed Al-Hukbani, 39, said: “For us as Saudis, it is loyalty to our country, which we belong to. I have bought the new Saudi football team’s shirt for all my wife and children. It is time to cheer for our team, and we are going to wear it wherever we go, and that’s what I hope to see from other Saudis these days.”
As the Saudi national team makes its first appearance in this year’s edition next Tuesday, Al-Hukbani said: “Wearing the green colour is an essential part of the World Cup experience.”
Meanwhile, Egyptian Adel Mansour said: “I am an Egyptian supporter. Buying Egypt’s jersey before the World Cup is a matter of pride. Even though the timing of this year’s edition is really late, we plan to watch our team’s matches during the tournament wearing our favourite team jerseys.”
Jerseys and flags are being sold not only in sports markets but also in fashion outlets, and temporary roadside stalls throughout the city.
