Meet the Young Designers Ready for Design FC’s World Cup
37 Countries. 37 Youth Designers. 37 Stories. To celebrate the 2026 World Cup, the youth non-profit Design FC has launched the Youth Creative Collective, a global design initiative featuring youth-designed jerseys from around the world.
Working with 37 partner organizations worldwide, Design FC has identified a youth leader in each participating country to design a jersey that tells the story of their nation. Each jersey becomes a canvas for these youth designers to share their stories with the world, and leave their mark on the world's biggest sporting event.
During the World Cup, Design FC is highlighting these designers and their jerseys through a global social media campaign, and gallery exhibits across World Cup host cities. With Forty-One, we tell the stories and creations of five of these designers below.
Natsuki, 18 — Japan FC RESIA, Tokyo
Natsuki is 18 years old and a member of FC RESIA, an inclusive girls football team in Tokyo that brings together players of diverse abilities and ages. Her jersey incorporates traditional Japanese patterns representing good fortune and safety, alongside koi, Mt. Fuji, and wave motifs connecting the front and back of the shirt.
But the detail that anchors the whole design is small and easy to miss. In the bottom right corner, a caterpillar. On the left side, a butterfly. The caterpillar is her, right now.
"At this moment, there are many things in my life that do not go well. Sometimes I feel left behind as I watch others grow and move forward around me. But I believe that one day I, too, will become a butterfly and be able to fly. Just keep going. As long as you're alive, it's going to be okay." - Natsuki.
Geremi, 16 — Colombia Línea Subterránea Foundation, San Pablo, Bolívar
Geremi is 16 years old and part of the Línea Subterránea Foundation, a community cultural organization in San Pablo, Bolívar that uses the four pillars of hip-hop culture as tools for youth expression and violence prevention. He describes himself as someone who finds beauty and meaning in details that often go unnoticed, and his motivation is to represent Colombia from a less observed, more sensitive, and profound perspective.
His design incorporates indigenous Colombian symbols alongside the pink river dolphin, the jaguar, the condor, and a sun referencing the myth of El Dorado. The key detail is structural: when the front and back of the jersey are joined, they form the silhouette of Colombia's map.
"I want to demonstrate that Colombia is much more than a country marked by violence, it is culture, creativity, identity, and expression." - Geremi
Marcus, 17 — Scotland Denis Law Legacy Trust, Aberdeen
Marcus is 17 years old and a volunteer with the Denis Law Legacy Trust in Aberdeen, having come through DLLT's own programs as a kid and grown into a role model for younger participants. The Trust delivers free sport and creative activity directly into neighborhoods across the northeast of Scotland, built around removing every barrier between young people and consistent, quality programming.
His design process was physical throughout. Oil-based ink rolled over the Scotland flag, solvent washed away to create marks representing Scottish weather. Jar lids pressed into fabric for yellow rings standing for community warmth. Red zigzag lines around the collar and sleeves for Aberdeen.
"The zig zag lines haven't changed, and still represent the bonds formed within the community."
Marie Pierre, 14 — Senegal Força Foundation, Keur Massar, Dakar
Marie Pierre is 14 years old and a student at Les Intellectuels de Keur Massar in Greater Dakar. She has been part of Força Foundation's football program for three years, training with her coach Cécile. Força works through football clubs and community associations across Senegal to create safe spaces where girls build leadership skills, health knowledge, and rights awareness.
The green, yellow, and red of the Senegalese flag anchor the design, each color carrying specific meaning: hope and faith in the future, wealth and culture, sacrifice and courage. A lion sits at the center, symbol of the national team and the Senegalese people.
"The Senegal jersey is not just a designed shirt. It is the perfect embodiment of an entire nation." - Marie Pierre
Zeno, 12 — New Zealand Mt Roskill Intermediate School, Auckland
Zeno is a 12-year-old Year 8 student at Mt. Roskill Intermediate School in Auckland, one of the most culturally diverse schools in New Zealand. He loves to draw and football is his favorite sport. He is part of the school's football academy, which has grown from 60 students to more than 250 over the past four years through a partnership with Auckland City Football Club.
His jersey tells the story of Aotearoa New Zealand and its place in the Pacific. The Southern Cross sits above the shape of the local mountain Puketāpapa, the stars that guided the first Māori navigators to Aotearoa. At the center is the Niho Taniwha pattern, featuring 13 triangles connecting all 13 countries of Oceania Football.
"This design shows who we are. Connected, diverse countries who strive hard and stand together." - Zeno
Below is a comprehensive list of all participating organizations and their respective countries:
Argentina - La Nuestra
Australia - Creating Chances
Austria - Breaking Grounds
Belgium - BX Brussels
Bosnia & Herz - Cross Cultures CCPA
Brazil - Foncesa Projeto & Recriando Raízes
Canada - Canada Scores Vancouver
Cape Verde - Delta Cultura
Colombia - Love.futbol & Fundación Línea Subterránea
Cote D'Ivoire - TackleAfrica - (Yaya Toure)
Croatia - Center for Cultural Dialogue
Curacao - Train Like Pros
Ecuador - Fundación de las Américas para el Desarrollo
Egypt - ASPIRE
England - Football Beyond Borders
France - Yard
Ghana - WhizzKids United & Game Changers
Haiti - Goals Haiti
Japan - Sport for Creating Pathways Japan (S.C.P. Japan) - CG
Jordan - War Child
Mexico - Futbol Mas
Morocco - Stah of Football
Netherlands - Johan Cruyff Foundation
New Zealand - Oceania Football
Norway - We Play Green-CG
Palestine - Palestine: Sports for Life (PS4L) - CG
Panama - La Legión
Paraguay - Fundacion Paraguaya
Portugal - Associação CAIS
Scotland - Denis Law Legacy Trust
Senegal - Força Futbol
South Africa - Grassroot Soccer
Spain - Asociacion Alacran 1997
Sweden - En Frisk Generation
Switzerland - Swiss Academy for Development
United States - Design FC
Uruguay - Fundacion Celeste
