WILLEMSTAD – International fashion retailer Zara has withdrawn a special World Cup-themed shirt for Curaçao after a glaring spelling mistake was discovered and widely criticized on social media.
The shirt, part of Zara's new FIFA World Cup 2026-inspired collection, featured the phrase “Play with Curaçau” instead of the correct spelling, “Curaçao.” The error was first highlighted by Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad and quickly drew attention from football fans and social media users.
The collection, launched ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, includes retro-inspired jerseys, sweaters, caps, and other apparel representing countries participating in the tournament. Curaçao's inclusion was notable because the island nation will be making its historic first appearance at a FIFA World Cup.
However, what should have been a celebratory moment quickly turned into a source of embarrassment for the brand. Several users pointed out the misspelling online, while content creator Max Klunder shared images of the shirt on Instagram and described the mistake as painful to see.
The criticism did not stop at the spelling error. Fans also questioned Zara's choice of colors for the design. While Curaçao's national colors are blue and yellow, the shirt featured a combination of dark blue and red, prompting further debate among supporters.
The mistake was especially striking given the increased international attention Curaçao has received following its qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Many fans argued that greater care should have been taken in representing the island correctly.
Shortly after the controversy gained traction, the shirt disappeared from Zara's website. The company has not yet issued a public statement explaining how the error occurred or whether the product will be redesigned and re-released.
For now, one of the first internationally marketed World Cup products associated with Curaçao has become the subject of discussion for all the wrong reasons, highlighting the importance of cultural accuracy and attention to detail when representing nations on the global stage.