Why Ivory Coast are allowed three stars on their kit despite never winning World Cup

Ivory Coast have three stars above their crest on their kits despite never winning the World Cup.

Ivory Coast, one of the leading African footballing nations, have appeared at four different World Cups in history.

Their appearance at the 2026 finals comes after a 12-year absence from the tournament. In each of their appearances, the Ivory Coast have failed to progress beyond the group stages at a World Cup.

Even with greats like Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure, the team were sent home early in 2006, 2010 and 2014.

Emerse Fae's side are hoping to change that this time around in the showpiece in North America and got off to a fine start with victory over Ecuador after Manchester United star Amad Diallo scored a last-gasp winner.

Despite failing to reach the knockout stages, Les Elephants have three stars on their shirts and that is to commemorate their trio of triumphs in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Typically stars are reserved for World Cup wins in line with FIFA rules, with Brazil boasting five and England having one to highlight their 1966 victory.

But Ivory Coast regularly play with three stars because of their continental competition history, with Egypt having seven to mark their dominance in the tournament.

However in the ongoing World Cup, those stars were not present for either nation.

Uruguay have four stars on their kit despite two World Cup wins

Switching gears though, Uruguay sported four stars on their shirt for their 1-1 draw on Monday and will do for their remaining fixtures.

That is despite the South American giants winning two World Cups. Uruguay won the very first World Cup in 1930 and followed it up with success 20 years on in 1950.

Yet because there was not a World Cup before 1930, their wins in the the 1924 and 1928 Olympics are also recognised in the form of stars.

Brazil were the first team to add stars on their shirt back in 1974 when the idea was approved and many others followed suit.

Uruguay were among those to get stars added, first making the change in 1992.

"The four stars symbolise the gold medals of the 1924 and 1928 Olympic Games and the 1930 and 1950 World Cups," the AUF said in a 2021 statement.

That statement followed on from a FIFA employee reportedly sending an email to then-kit manufacturer Puma.

READ MORE: Seven nations are wearing different shirts during World Cup as new FIFA rule explained

With information and documents from historians, the AUF argued their case and received a retraction from FIFA, with the stars present for a game against Colombia in October.

It has been seen on their kits in both the 2022 and 2026 editions.

This time around, FIFA have brought in a whole host of new patches to recognise World Cup achievements.

All seven nations to have won the World Cup have a special patch gold patch, while Harry Kane, James Rodriguez and Kylian Mbappe have different ones as former Golden Boot winners.

There also patches for debuts, Golden Ball winners, Golden Glove winners and legacy patches awarded for those to have played in five or more World Cups.