While there are always minor tweaks to keep things fresh (and sell more merchandise), soccer clubs generally keep their home jersey relatively consistent. If you're a Manchester City supporter, for example, it's safe to assume the primary kit will be sky-blue with a few season-specific flourishes.
During the 2023-24 campaign, however, there will be a mid-season addition. Starting at the end of December, Pep Guardiola's squad will have a new gold badge at the center of their chests.
What's behind that detail? Unsurprisingly, given the club's recent run, it's another tribute to Manchester City's success.
Manchester City Are Celebrating a Club World Cup Win
While the World Cup is the granddaddy of them all, there is another soccer tournament with a similar name: The Club World Cup. It occupies a much smaller place on the sporting calendar, though.
Without getting into the finer points of qualification and which region enters the fray at which point, the tournament pits the winners of each region's continental competition against each other. The reigning UEFA Champions League titleholder, for example, represents Europe.
This year, the final four teams were Manchester City (England), Al Ahly (Egypt), Fluminense (Brazil) and the Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan). City and Fluminense won their respective semifinals, and the English squad triumphed 4-0 in the title match.
That was Manchester City's first Club World Cup crown and, on the back of their treble, made them the first English team to concurrently hold the Premier League title, the Champions League title, the FA Cup, and the Club World Cup.
And while the Club World Cup isn't exactly a marquee competition, City will still commemorate their victory in style. A gold badge showing the newest addition to their trophy cabinet and bearing the words "FIFA World Champions 2023" will be added to the front of their jerseys.
"City will wear the FIFA World Champions 2023 badge in all Premier League and Champions League matches across the remainder of 2023/24 – starting with our league fixture with Everton on Wednesday 27 December," the club's website says.
That's somewhat of a change from previous precedent. While Chelsea did wear the badge for the rest of the 2022 campaign, Liverpool weren't allowed to sport the addition with regularity in 2019.
As the Liverpool website noted, "UEFA will allow Liverpool to wear it in the Champions League this season and the next. However, it is not set to be permitted for matches in the Premier League. In the FA Cup, if the club wants to wear something different on its kit to what is registered with the Premier League, then a formal application is required."
Jurgen Klopp's squad, however, did get permission to wear the badge in one domestic match.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Joe Kozlowski is a native New Yorker who joined Newsweek in 2023 as the Sports Team Lead.
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