So you've been watching the FIFA 2026 World Cup. You've seen the jerseys, the goals, the Curaçao players and their viral hairstyles, all the drama.
But can we talk about what happened BEFORE the first ball was kicked? Because three African teams showed up to this tournament dressed so well, the airport arrivals got more engagement than some of the actual matches.
We're talking custom tailoring, hand-embroidered national symbols, cultural references sewn into every single seam.
And the internet lost it. Obviously.
But MBG was already in the know. These designers? They've been on our radar. We're not here to talk you through the matches. We're here for the part that lasts longer than a final whistle: who's actually behind these looks, and what else from each country deserves a spot in your life. Fashion, beauty, food, the whole picture.
The World Cup brought these countries to your timeline. Let's bring them to your wishlist.
Ivory Coast — The Elephants Walked Off That Plane Like a Runway Show
Let's start with the one that broke the internet first. Ivory Coast landed in a structured orange jacket with hand-embroidered elephants across the back, white trousers, and the kind of coordinated energy that made every other team's tracksuits look tragic.
The designer? Ibrahim Fernandez. Abidjan-based, self-taught, and already on MBG. He started making clothes from his mother's textile shop after his father passed. Now he's dressing an entire national team for a World Cup and running a Galeries Lafayette pop-up in the same month.
Oh, and he just dropped a limited capsule of 10 numbered pieces from that exact suit. If you want to own a literal piece of World Cup history, this is your moment — and once they're gone, they're gone.
Save Ibrahim Fernandez to Your Free MBG Wishlist
Now that you're paying attention to Ivory Coast, here's who else you need to know:
Le Chocolatier Ivoirien
Here's a well-known stat that will annoy you: Ivory Coast produces over 40% of the world's cocoa. And almost none of it gets turned into chocolate locally. Axel Emmanuel left his banking job to change that: bean-to-bar chocolate, made entirely in Abidjan from Ivorian beans. If you like your chocolate with a side of justice, this is the one.
Save these Ivory Coast Brands to Your Free MBG Wishlist
DR Congo — 52 Years Between World Cups. They Made Every Second Count.
DR Congo has qualified for the World Cup exactly twice. 1974 and now. Fifty-two years apart. And when the Leopards finally touched down in Houston, they didn't do tracksuits. They did custom black suits with leopard-print panels, gold lapel pins, and the kind of energy that said: "We waited half a century for this, and we dressed accordingly."
The designer behind it all? Alvin Junior Mak of JMAKxPARIS. Born in DRC, raised in Paris, and built his entire brand on La Sape, the Congolese tradition that treats how you dress as an extension of who you are.
The piece you need: MONIAMA. You too can become a sapeur, as Alvin has blessed us with the full collection now live on JMAKxPARIS. One thing we know for sure is this range will sell out soon, so grab it while you can.
Save JMAKxPARIS to Your Free MBG Wishlist →
Now that DRC is on your radar:
If you want a beauty brand with a real story behind it, you're looking at KOBA. Founded by Thérèse M'Boungoubaya, the name means "turtle" in Lingala, her Congolese heritage language, symbolising protection. Her hero ingredient is safou oil, sourced from Central Africa, something most Western skincare brands have never even heard of. Stocked at Anthropologie and Credo Beauty.
Save these DRC Brands to Your Free MBG Wishlist
Senegal — The Reigning AFCON Champions Dressed Like It
Yes, they are my reigning champions, and that's that on that.
Senegal rolled up in coordinated grey and green, designed by the Dakar-based atelier Xakeb Maison de Couture, owned and operated by designer Khadim Kebe, that also styled the squad for AFCON. Their Green and white trainers were custom-made by Cheikh Dalleu.
Senegalese tailoring doing what Senegalese tailoring has been doing for generations, being quietly, devastatingly sharp. Fun fact: Dakar has an estimated 61,000 tailor shops. Sixty-one thousand. Fashion is not a trend in Senegal. It's infrastructure.
Now that you're paying attention:
For pure heritage luxury, you want Maison Kébé. A family-run atelier in Dakar, founded by Cheikh Kébé, whose father was a master tailor and whose parents fell in love during a fitting in Paris. He's 27, already nominated for Model of the Year, and building what he calls Africa's first global luxury fashion house. Just featured in Dazed. Just styled Harper's Bazaar Netherlands' Businesswoman of the Year cover.
If you want something completely different, look at Kayrafet. Handcrafted Senegalese jewellery, brass and gold-plated pieces that blend tradition with modern style. The kind of accessory brand that turns into your whole personality once you find it.
Save these Senegalese Brands to Your Free MBG Wishlist
Your Move.
Three countries. Three viral airport arrivals. And behind every single one, a Black designer who didn't just dress a team. They dressed a whole nation's pride.
But the World Cup ends in July. These brands don't. The designers keep designing. The chocolatiers keep crafting. The skincare keeps glowing. The only question is whether you saved them before the rest of the internet caught up.
Create your free MBG account and lock these into your wishlist now
Now go watch the matches. But save the brands first.
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