zara haalt curaçao-wk-shirt uit de handel na spellingblunder
Amsterdam, vrijdag, 5 juni 2026.
Zara heeft zijn nieuw gelanceerde WK-shirt voor Curaçao weer teruggetrokken. Op de collectie, geïnspireerd op jaren zeventig-ontwerpen, stond niet ‘Curaçao’ maar ‘Curaçau’. De fout verscheen op shirts met de tekst ‘Play with Curaçau’. De vergissing trok direct online verontwaardiging los. Influencer Max Klunder noemde het ‘pijnlijk’. Sommige gebruikers speculeren op een Portugese spelling, anderen spreken van een duidelijke fout. Naast de spelling valt ook de kleurkeuze op: rood en donkerblauw i.p.v. het officiële geel en blauw. Het shirt is verwijderd van de website. Zara heeft formeel stilzwijgen bewaard.
zara recalls curaçao world cup shirts after spelling error
Zara has withdrawn its newly launched World Cup merchandise for Curaçao following a significant spelling error. The shirts bore the text ‘Play with Curaçau’ instead of the correct ‘Curaçao’, prompting immediate backlash on social media [1]. Influencer Max Klunder highlighted the mistake on Instagram, calling it ‘painful’ [2]. While some speculate the brand may have adopted a Portuguese spelling variant—where ‘Curaçau’ is occasionally used—the consensus points to a production oversight rather than intentional design [1][2].
design flaws extend beyond spelling
In addition to the spelling issue, criticism emerged regarding the shirt’s color scheme. Official Curaçao national team kits feature yellow and blue, reflecting the island’s flag colors [1]. However, Zara released a version using red and dark blue, deviating from recognized national symbols [2]. This discrepancy further fueled consumer dissatisfaction. Both the color choice and typographical error suggest lapses in quality control during the product development phase. The item has since been removed from Zara’s official website [1][2].
brand remains silent amid growing scrutiny
As of June 5, 2026, Zara has not issued an official public statement addressing the controversy [2]. Despite requests for comment from media outlets, the company maintains silence across press channels [1]. The affected merchandise was part of a broader collaboration between Zara and FIFA aimed at celebrating international football cultures through retro-inspired designs [1]. Curaçao’s inclusion marks historical significance, as the island qualified for the World Cup for the first time under coach Dick Advocaat [1].