Brazil's men's national team saw their entire team donning black kits for the first time in history when they took the field in a friendly against Guinea on June 17.
The Selecao broke from traditional kit colours in an effort to use their platform to bring awareness to the battle against racism, which has seen one of their stars as a victim.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr has been the target of repeated racist abuse from opposing fans in Spain. The incidents have drawn global attention and now his national team wants to show support by doing something about it.
The friendly against Guinea happened to take place in Barcelona, Spain, where authorities and top-flight La Liga have come under fire for not doing enough to stop the abuse.
MORE: Follow Brazil vs Guinea with The Sporting News live blog
For the very first time an all black shirt for Brazil tonight - a powerful message in the fight against racism pic.twitter.com/gY8jk8vpVA
— Cult Kits (@cultkits) June 17, 2023
Why did Brazil wear black kits?
The Brazilian football federation announced on June 12 that they would wear the black kits for the first half of the match against Guinea. They switched back to their traditional yellow tops for the second half.
This is part of an anti-racism campaign by the Brazilian federation, which has adopted the slogan "Com racismo nao tem jogo" (With racism, there is no game).
"From the first day of my mandate, this [battle against racism] has been a priority," Brazil football federation president Ednaldo Rodrigues said in a statement. "We held a seminar on this topic, and we created a working group with 60 persons who meet periodically to advance discussions and proposals.
"We are the only football federation in the world that created a mechanism that allows for points deductions for acts of racism, which is included in the federation's official competition guidelines."
Dia de Brasil! Dia de importante passo na luta contra o racismo!!!✊🏿
— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) June 17, 2023
Contra o racismo não tem jogo. Pela primeira vez na história, Seleção Brasileira usará um uniforme todo preto para enfrentar Guiné, no RCDE Stadium, em Barcelona.
Vamos pela vitória dentro e fora dos campos.… pic.twitter.com/9zihpP5hzY
Have Brazil ever worn a black shirt?
Brazil's national football team have never worn a black shirt in official competition in their history.
But black Brazil shirts have been produced, specifically for goalkeepers and for training and warmups.
Brazil are known for their yellow shirts, which have been worn since the 1950s, when they ditched their white kits following a traumatic World Cup final defeat against Uruguay on home soil.
There has been an occasional white shirt used over the last 50 years, but yellow (primary jersey) and blue (secondary jersey) are Brazil's main colours, with hints of green, typically used in trims and collars.
The away kit of #Selecao for the 2019 #CopaAmerica. The first time in 70 years that #Brazil will wear a white shirt in an official competition. pic.twitter.com/Uzsq5OA61P
— FC MP (@sambayorker) April 10, 2019
Can I buy black Brazil kit?
The best way for fans to buy the black Brazil shirt is by searching for the black goalkeeper shirt online.
Nike released this goalkeeper kit for 2022/23 and it was worn by Brazil's Alisson during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in the quarterfinal loss on penalties to Croatia.
Some online merchants will also have the black Brazil 3rd kits from a decade ago that were exclusively worn for training and warmups, but never during a match.
This is Brazil's NT black 3rd shirt (Brazil not going to wear it in actual games though), pic via 'Globo Esporte': pic.twitter.com/PXDz19Nn9D
— Paulo Freitas (@Cynegeticus) December 24, 2013
Jersey Brazil 3rd Black Edition (2013 - 2014) pic.twitter.com/C6OJVVXKOW
— Dion1945 (@Dioni_ekaputra) June 1, 2013