The story of the Mexican national team jersey that was banned by the government

After the success of the jersey worn by the Mexican national team at the 1998 World Cup in France, José Antonio García, co-owner of Garcis, already had a bold idea for the kit Mexico would use in the 1999 Confederations Cup. But just as production ramped up, an unexpected decision derailed everything.

García revealed that by 1999 he had already produced 60,000 jerseys featuring Mexico’s national coat of arms prominently displayed on the front. However, a ruling from Congress ultimately forced the project to be abandoned.

“I used to see in England and the United States that there are mugs, shirts, even underwear with their flag. I thought about creating something with identity, something that would make us proud to wear it. It occurred to me to put the national coat of arms on a jersey. I went to the Interior Ministry – at the time the secretary was Labastida Ochoa – and I was authorized to produce it. So I started manufacturing.

“I made the jersey, more than 60,000 pieces were produced, and the new national team shirt even appeared in newspapers. Then Congress – deputies and senators – said it was prohibited by the constitution to commercialize the national coat of arms, and the jersey was scrapped,” García said in an interview with ESPN.

After Congress rejected the design, García explained that the entire production had to be shipped to the United States, where no such restriction existed. What was meant to be Mexico’s next iconic kit instead became an export-only curiosity.

Ironically, the ban helped elevate the jersey’s status over time. With most units sold and distributed in the United States, the shirt has since become a highly sought-after collector’s item.

The design that ultimately replaced it featured the crest of the Mexican Football Federation. That was the jersey Mexico wore when it defeated Brazil in the final of the 1999 Confederations Cup.

The original design had been blocked under the Law on the National Shield, Flag, and Anthem, legislation approved by Congress during the presidency of Miguel de la Madrid.

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