The 2026 World Cup is now underway, but a second team has seen its preparations interrupted by FIFA’s strict kit regulations.

First, Haiti were ordered to remove an image depicting a war scene from their shirt before their opening World Cup game against Scotland. The kit was deemed too ‘political’ and therefore didn’t fit into FIFA’s strict parameters.

Now, a second nation has been told they must make significant changes to their jersey before even kicking a ball at the United States, Canada and Mexico-based tournament.

FIFA Reject World Cup Kit Design at Last Minute

Ken Blaze (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Mohamed Salah’s Egypt are the latest team to be punished for not meeting FIFA’s rules in a new crackdown. The Pharaohs will face Belgium in their first Group G match on Monday, before then playing against Iran and New Zealand.

However, they’ll have to do so without the seven stars they normally have above their crest. Egypt proudly don the stars to symbolise how many times they’ve won the Africa Cup of Nations. But football’s governing body has deemed that unsuitable for the World Cup.

New guidelines state that only World Cup wins can be recognised on shirts being worn during the competition. That means continental trophies such as AFCON, European Championship or Copa America titles cannot be shown in the form of a star.

That’s not the only change the African nation will have to make. The gold numbers and writing have also been rejected by FIFA. Competition officials decided the metallic gold numerals weren’t suitable for visibility reasons.

This will be their fourth appearance at World Cup finals, having most recently played in the 2018 group stages. Due to the teams in their group and the fact more teams advance, Egypt will be hoping to reach the knockout rounds this time around.

Only Eight Nations Allowed Stars on Their Shirt

Nathan Ray Seebeck via Reuters

Due to the guidelines allowing only countries that have won the World Cup to don stars on their shirts, it means only eight nations can do so. One of them, Italy, isn’t even at this year’s competition after failing to qualify.

Brazil (5), Germany (4) and Argentina (3) are the other most successful nations on the biggest international stage, and will all have multiple stars on their kits this summer. France and Uruguay will be allowed to have two stars, while England and Spain have both won the World Cup once each.

Tottenham should already be mobilising to snatch one of Chelsea’s reported transfer targets this summer. Roberto De Zerbi has a to-do list as big as his arm this summer as he bids to turn a relegation-battling team into one that is capable of fighting for Europe next season.

To their credit, Spurs have made a quick start, snapping up Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi, while Savinho looks to be a likely signing from Manchester City. But it’s going to take more than three new signings, with this squad needing to be overhauled, while another centre-back is likely needed to fill a gap that will almost certainly be left by Cristian Romero.

Spurs have a big striker need

With Randal Kolo Muani heading back to PSG after an unimpressive loan spell, Spurs have a clear need for at least one new striker, while uncertainty over Richarlison’s future could take the number up to two.

Dominic Solanke was a big investment by the club, but he has not been able to stay fit consistently, and his performance level has varied.

With pacey wingers, of which Savinho is another, this team is set up to have a holding striker, and it’s likely De Zerbi will stick to that theme, but he also knows he needs something more than what he currently has.

Vlahovic is an obvious candidate

Given the amount of money Spurs are going to have to spend on their squad, it would be wise to consider where they can save a buck or two, and soon-to-be former Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic is available for free, at least in terms of a transfer fee. Wages will be a very different matter, given he is currently earning £400,000-a-week.

The Serbian is not a goalscorer, but he certainly can pitch in with goals. What he is is a dominant centre-forward who will win headers, bring the ball down, receive the ball anywhere and bring the midfield and wingers into play. Beyond that, he also has a decent burst of pace for a taller striker, standing at 6ft 3ins.

Speaking when he was still at Fiorentina, Micah Richards said: “I have watched him a couple of times now, he is lightning, it’s ridiculous. His left foot is like a wand. I am telling you now, he is everything, he is everything you need.”

But none of that is the main reason Spurs should be interested.

Vlahovic is a mentality monster

De Zerbi will want to overhaul this dressing room with players with a steel-like mentality, and Vlahovic is that guy.

Obsessed with the next best thing, Juventus quickly fell out of love with Vlahovic when they found out he wasn’t a week-in, week-out scorer, something they should have known before spending €80million to sign him.

Despite relentless talk in the Italian media, transfer rumours aplenty and Juventus actively touting him to other clubs last summer, Vlahovic kept his head down and remained a starter. Rather than quitting the club, he saw out the full five years of his contract before collecting his final pay-cheque and walking out through the Allianz Stadium doors.

That drew praise from former Spurs boss Igor Tudor, who labelled him an ‘example’ for the level of his performance in the wake of all the transfer noise.

We hear all the time of players who crack under such pressure, and we have seen plenty of those players at Tottenham and in the Premier League as a whole. How quickly players can become ‘flops’ once the media and fans get on top of them for not delivering on a big fee.

Vlahovic shouldered that criticism and got on with his job for three years or more, never losing his place in the meantime. That’s the kind of player De Zerbi needs to build this Tottenham dressing room around, and it’s why Spurs should be moving quickly to make sure he doesn’t end up with London rivals Chelsea.

Tottenham find themselves in need of a new striker this summer, and their search may have just been handed a significant boost. Roberto De Zerbi and the club’s recruitment staff have already set about improving the squad this summer, quickly adding Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi on free deals.

Savinho could be the next domino to fall as Spurs continue to work on a deal to snatch the winger from Manchester City, while talks are ongoing over making the loan of Joao Palhinha a permanent move.

In the background, Spurs will be working on identifying striker targets as they look to replace outgoing loan star Randal Kolo Muani and – potentially – Richarlison.

Spurs land Guirassy boost

One striker who has regularly been linked with Spurs over recent weeks is Borussia Dortmund frontman Serhou Guirassy. The proven goalscorer is considering his options this summer, now 30 years of age, and he may be available for transfer at the right price.

There were reports of an agreement with Fenerbahce, but that is not the case, according to his agent and brother, Karamba Guirassy.

He told Sky Sports Germany: “To clarify: no agreement of any kind has been reached. Serhou is currently evaluating his options for next season. Any claim of a verbal deal is simply not true.”

Tottenham should seize chance to move for Guirassy

Spurs will be well aware of the scarcity of options when it comes to proven strikers this summer, and indeed most summers. There are plenty of strikers who have had a good season here or there, but few who have consistently scored goals like Guirassy.

He is just coming off the back of a 22-goal season with Dortmund, adding to the 34 he scored across all competitions the season prior. During his time at Stuttgart before joining Dortmund, he scored 30 goals in his final season and 14 the season before.

Guirassy is not going to be a long-term option, given he is 30 years of age, but the price will reflect that. he is understood to have a £30million release clause in his contract for select big clubs, although it is unknown whether Spurs would fall into that category. He has the pace and power to succeed at Premier League level, and he can find the net on repeat.

Speaking about the striker’s physicality, Dortmund boss Niko Kovac said back in September: “Sensational! As long as his energy held out – he’s in top physical shape, but if you don’t have continuity, you can get cramps after 70 minutes – he made a very, very assured impression: very confident, very strong in the tackle,”

Spurs have had too many strikers who aren’t goalscorers, and De Zerbi can fix that and give his front line a truly dangerous edge by snapping up Guirassy this summer.