Why does Brazil wear yellow and blue?
Brazil's iconic yellow and blue soccer jersey was created through a national contest following a traumatic World Cup loss.
After losing the 1950 World Cup at home to Uruguay, Brazil abandoned their traditional white uniforms, which were seen as a curse. A newspaper launched a competition to design a new kit using all the colors of the national flag. The winner was 18-year-old Aldyr Garcia Schlee, who ironically supported Uruguay. His yellow, green, blue, and white design debuted in 1954 and became a global symbol of soccer excellence.
Nerd Mode
The 1950 World Cup final, known as the 'Maracanazo,' saw Brazil lose 2-1 to Uruguay in front of nearly 200,000 fans at the Maracanã Stadium. This defeat caused a national identity crisis, leading the newspaper Correio da Manhã to sponsor a contest in 1953 to replace the 'unpatriotic' white and blue uniforms. The only rule was that the new kit must incorporate the four colors of the Brazilian flag: yellow, green, blue, and white.Aldyr Garcia Schlee, a young illustrator from the border town of Jaguarão, submitted the winning entry out of 301 designs. Schlee struggled with the color combination, initially finding the mix of yellow and green 'garish.' He eventually settled on a golden-yellow shirt with green piping, cobalt blue shorts with white stripes, and white socks. This combination was first worn during the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland against Mexico.Despite creating the most famous jersey in sports history, Schlee remained a lifelong fan of the Uruguayan national team. He was a respected author and academic who later faced political persecution during Brazil's military dictatorship. The 'Canarinho' (Little Canary) jersey has since been worn by legends like Pelé and Garrincha, helping Brazil win a record five FIFA World Cup titles.
Verified Fact
FP-0009321 · Feb 21, 2026