Regarding praying while wearing Saudi Arabia's 2026 World Cup jersey

Wa ‘alaykum as-salām wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh.

Thank you for your question. We will address it according to the Qur’an, authentic Sunnah, and the understanding of the Salaf, particularly the opinions of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn al-Qayyim, Shaykh Ibn Bāz, Shaykh al-Albānī, Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymīn, and Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān.

1. Is the jersey itself impure (najis)?

No. The jersey is made of ordinary fabric (polyester/cotton). There is nothing in the description that suggests it contains physical impurities (najāsah) such as blood, urine, or alcohol. The logo is printed ink; printing ink is not najis per se. Therefore, the jersey is tāhir (pure) in terms of physical cleanliness. You may wear it in normal circumstances.

2. The issue of images (ṣuwar) on the attire

The core of your question revolves around the logo – especially the part that “looks like an eagle.” In Islamic law, the ruling on wearing garments with images of animate beings (living creatures with a soul) is strict, especially during prayer.

Evidences from the Sunnah

• Prohibition of images in general
  The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

  “The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or an image.” (al-Bukhārī 3225, Muslim 2106)
  This includes images on clothing, walls, or any object.

• Praying with images invalidates or severely reduces the reward
  The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

  “Whoever makes an image will be punished on the Day of Resurrection until he breathes life into it, and he will never be able to do so.” (al-Bukhārī 5963, Muslim 2108)

• The Salaf forbade prayer in garments with images
  Ibn ‘Abbās (ra) said:

  “If you must do that (have images), then make them as trees and inanimate objects.” (al-Bukhārī 3343)

  Imām al-Bukhārī titled a chapter in his Ṣaḥīḥ:

  “Chapter: Whoever prays while wearing a garment with a cross or an image, is his prayer valid?”
  Narrations indicate that such prayer is disliked (makrūh), and some scholars consider it invalid.

Ruling of contemporary major scholars

• Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azīz ibn Bāz (رحمه الله) said:

  “It is not permissible for a Muslim to pray while wearing a garment that has an image of a living creature (human, animal, bird, etc.), because the Prophet (ﷺ) forbade images. The prayer in such a garment is invalid according to the correct view of the scholars, because it is an act of imitating the idolaters and because the angels do not enter a place that contains images.”
  (Majmū‘ Fatāwā Ibn Bāz, 10/345)

• Shaykh Muḥammad Nāṣir al-Dīn al-Albānī (رحمه الله) said:

  “Wearing a garment with an image of an animate being during prayer is not allowed, and if one prays in it, his prayer is incomplete (nāqiṣ) or invalid, depending on the evidence.”
  (Tamām al-Minnah, p. 246)

• Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymīn (رحمه الله) was asked about praying in a shirt with a picture of a lion or eagle. He replied:

  “It is not permissible to pray in such a garment, because the Prophet (ﷺ) forbade images, and because the angels do not enter a place where there is an image. The one who prays should remove such a garment or cover the image.”
  (Fatāwā Nūr ‘alā al-Darb, tape 106)

• Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān (حفظه الله) writes:

  “Praying in a garment that has an image of a living creature is not permitted, and the prayer may be invalid if the image is prominent. The Muslim must avoid such clothing for prayer.”
  (Al-Muntaqā min Fatāwā al-Fawzān, 1/245)

3. Specific application to the Saudi Arabia 2026 World Cup jersey

You mentioned that the logo contains a palm tree (inanimate – permissible), a football (inanimate – permissible), and something “a bit like an eagle” (animate – problematic).

• If the “eagle-like” part is clearly a depiction of a bird or any other living creature (e.g., a hawk, eagle, or falcon), then it is an image of an animate being.
• Even if it is stylized, as long as it represents a creature with a soul, it falls under the prohibition.
• Many national team logos include birds or animals (e.g., Qatari or UAE crests). The Saudi Football Federation’s official emblem for the 2026 World Cup bid/qualification may have a stylized falcon/eagle. You should verify the actual logo.

Presumption: If the logo clearly includes a bird (eagle/falcon), then it is not permissible to pray while wearing that jersey. The jersey itself is not najis, but the image is a barrier to valid prayer.

4. What should you do?

• Option 1: Do not wear the jersey during prayer. Wear a plain, clean garment that has no images of animate beings.
• Option 2: If you have no other garment, you may cover the image (e.g., with a cloth, a jacket, or turn the jersey inside out so the image is not visible). Some scholars allow prayer if the image is covered or if it is small and inconspicuous. However, the safest and most correct view is to avoid it entirely.
• Option 3: If the logo is only a palm tree and a football (no bird/animal), then it is fine to pray in it, as palm trees and sports equipment are inanimate.

5. Final fatwa

The Saudi Arabia 2026 World Cup jersey is pure (not najis).
However, if its logo includes an image of a living creature (bird, eagle, etc.), it is not permissible to pray while wearing it, because the prayer may be invalid or severely deficient. You should remove the jersey or cover the image before prayer.

And Allah knows best.

May Allah grant you sincerity and ease. If the logo is uncertain, send a clear picture to a trustworthy scholar for a definitive answer.