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— CH. 1 · SHIELD SHAPE AND COLOR RULES —

FIFA Champions Badge

~4 min read · Ch. 1 of 6
6 sections
  • The FIFA Champions Badge takes the form of a gold and white shield. It displays the image of the relevant trophy alongside the inscription FIFA WORLD CHAMPIONS. The year in which the competition was won appears next to this text. Two color schemes exist for the emblem. One scheme features gold letters on a white background. The other uses white letters on a gold background. A variation called FIFA INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONS appeared after the creation of the Intercontinental Cup. This badge serves as a temporary honor that expires when a new winner is crowned. It cannot be used on replica kits or training apparel.

  • FIFA owns, produces and licenses the physical badge itself. A third party manufactures the item on behalf of FIFA. Unisport produced orders for the badge in 2019. Orders from kit manufacturers must go through FIFA directly. This logistical situation created delays for consumers purchasing Nike-made kits of the United States women's national soccer team with the badge in 2019. Major kit manufacturers like Nike and Puma have faced issues licensing the badge for first-team kits sold to the general public. The award brings commercial benefits through sales of kits that include the new FIFA badge. These financial dynamics complicate the simple act of wearing an emblem.

  • A separate agreement is required to wear the badge in non-FIFA organized competitions. In 2009, the English FA granted Manchester United permission to wear the badge during FA Cup fixtures. They did not grant permission for Premier League matches. Liverpool sought a similar arrangement after becoming 2019 holders. Authorities allowed them to use the badge for one home Premier League fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers on the 29th of December 2019. Real Madrid and Barcelona received permission to wear the badge during all Spanish La Liga fixtures. Manchester City won success in 2023 and were granted permission by the Premier League to wear the badge for the remainder of the 2023, 24 season. A special request allowed Manchester City to also wear the badge for the entire 2024, 25 season. Paris Saint-Germain could not wear the badge in the French Cup because club jerseys were produced by the French Football Federation.

  • The first official award of the badge was made in February 2008 to honor Italian club Milan. Milan had won the title in 2007. FIFA declared that three previous winners Corinthians, São Paulo, and Internacional could wear the badge until a new winner was crowned in the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup Final in December. When Corinthians won the badge in the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup, FIFA confirmed it was their first time officially earning the badge outright. In 2025, the badge extended to the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and awarded to Real Madrid. The following year, the badge also extended to the FIFA Women's Champions Cup where Arsenal became the first winner. Real Madrid has won the right to wear the badge on five separate occasions since its inception. Barcelona has won the right three times.

  • In September 2008, the badge extended to the FIFA World Cup and presented to defending champions from 2006, Italy. This made Italy the first national team to wear the badge. In 2009, the badge extended to the FIFA Women's World Cup and awarded to Germany, reigning champions from 2007. The badge further extended to the FIFA Futsal World Cup in 2012 where Brazil became the first winner. In 2013, the badge added to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup being first worn by Russia. The badge has yet to be added for any of FIFA's age-grade world championships like the U-17 and U-20 World Cups for men and women. It remains absent from the men's Olympic soccer tournament and Youth Olympic futsal tournaments. Brazil beach soccer teams have won the right thrice while futsal teams have won it twice.

  • On the 22nd of December 2019, Liverpool ended Real Madrid's uninterrupted reign as FIFA Club World Cup Champions Badge holders. That streak lasted 1,098 days starting from the 18th of December 2016. It stood as the longest continuous period for which any club team had held a FIFA Champions Badge. The United States women's national soccer team won the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. They kept a FIFA World Cup Champions Badge uninterrupted since the 5th of July 2015 until the end of the 2023 World Cup. This marked the longest continuous period for which any national team has held a FIFA Champions Badge. No other national team has yet won the badge twice in succession. Real Madrid holds the record for most wins among clubs with five separate occasions. The USWNT has won the right to wear the badge on two separate occasions since its inception.

Common questions

What does the FIFA Champions Badge look like and what are its color schemes?

The FIFA Champions Badge takes the form of a gold and white shield displaying the relevant trophy alongside the inscription FIFA WORLD CHAMPIONS. One scheme features gold letters on a white background while the other uses white letters on a gold background.

When was the first official award of the FIFA Champions Badge made to which club?

The first official award of the badge was made in February 2008 to honor Italian club Milan who had won the title in 2007. FIFA declared that three previous winners Corinthians, São Paulo, and Internacional could wear the badge until a new winner was crowned in the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup Final in December.

Which national team was the first to wear the FIFA Champions Badge for the World Cup?

In September 2008 the badge extended to the FIFA World Cup and presented to defending champions from 2006 Italy making it the first national team to wear the badge. In 2009 the badge extended to the FIFA Women's World Cup and awarded to Germany reigning champions from 2007.

How long did Real Madrid hold the longest continuous period as FIFA Club World Cup Champions Badge holders?

On the 22nd of December 2019 Liverpool ended Real Madrid's uninterrupted reign as FIFA Club World Cup Champions Badge holders after a streak lasting 1,098 days starting from the 18th of December 2016. This stood as the longest continuous period for which any club team had held a FIFA Champions Badge.

Who is the most successful club in winning the right to wear the FIFA Champions Badge?

Real Madrid holds the record for most wins among clubs with five separate occasions since its inception. Barcelona has won the right three times while no other national team has yet won the badge twice in succession.