Kylian Mbappé wears different kit to France team-mates at World Cup due to little-known FIFA rule

Kylian Mbappe wore a slightly different kit to his France teammates during Les Bleus' World Cup opener against Senegal – but there's an explanation.

France got their 2026 World Cup campaign underway against the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations winners in New Jersey, with Didier Deschamps fielding a star-studded line-up.

Paris Saint-Germain stars Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue featured alongside Bayern Munich's Michael Olise and, of course, main man Mbappe, who led the line.

Alongside Spain, who could only manage a 0-0 draw against tournament debutants Cape Verde in their opener on Monday (June 15), France entered the tournament as favourites.

Following the two-time winners' opener against Senegal, they will face Iran and Norway. If they top the group, they will then face the third-placed team from Group C, D, F, G or H in the round of 32.

Despite entering the tournament as favourites, this has not stopped star man Mbappe from vowing to increase his defensive workload.

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Speaking to French outlet Le Parisien on June 15, he said: "I need to take the extra step [with my defensive work] because it's something important for the team and I have to do it.

"It will start this time because we want to win, and to win, I'm ready to do whatever it takes because I want to win at all costs."

But the 27-year-old's attacking threat will no doubt be apparent throughout the tournament, with his kit even highlighting his goalscoring prowess.

Mbappe is wearing a slightly different kit to his teammates because he won the Golden Boot at the 2022 tournament, scoring eight goals – including a hat-trick in the final, despite France losing to Argentina on penalties.

🚨 Kylian Mbappé will have a special Golden Boot patch on his kit.

This is because he was the top scorer in the last World Cup. pic.twitter.com/MmUNVyN9r1

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) June 16, 2026

Which other players will wear a different kit from their team-mates at the World Cup?

The Real Madrid striker is one of just three players wearing a Golden Boot winners' patch, alongside England captain Harry Kane and Colombia's James Rodriguez, who won the award in 2018 and 2014 respectively.

Gold tournament logos are also worn by players whose nations have previously won the tournament – Argentina, Uruguay, Germany, Brazil, England, France and Spain.

All other nations wear black or white patches, depending on the colour of their kits.

Smaller patches can also be spotted below the tournament patch, with some players wearing debut patches to mark their maiden appearances at the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Croatia's Luka Modric, Japan's Yuto Nagatomo, Germany's Manuel Neuer, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina's Lionel Messi will wear legacy patches after appearing at five or more separate World Cups.

Previous Golden Glove winners Neuer, Argentina's Emiliano Martinez and Belgium's Thibaut Courtois are also wearing patches to mark their achievements.