Belgium’s “surrealist” World Cup kit: the away kit pays tribute to Magritte

Brussels – “Ceci n’est pas un maillot.” This is not a match shirt. For this summer’s World Cup, Belgium has produced a brand-new and very special kit: a tribute to René Magritte, the Belgian painter and one of the leading figures of Surrealism. With a black collar and cuffs framing a colour combination of sky blue and pink, the new shirt features elements of the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) crest and, through the hemispheres woven into the fabric, references to the famous apple used by Magritte in his famous painting “The son of man“. 

“In keeping with the surrealist theme, its striking graphic print will stimulate the imagination” of the observer, claims the RBFA as it unveils the new kit to the public, continuing the well-established tradition of drawing inspiration for the national team’s away kits from elements typical of Belgian identity. 

At the 2016 European Championships, a jersey was unveiled that drew inspiration from cycling teams, as a tribute to Eddy Merckx and the country’s cycling heritage. The kit dedicated to Magritte will be worn by the players for the first time during the friendly match against the United States on 28 March in Atlanta, ahead of this summer’s World Cup, where Belgium will face Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand in the group stage.