Meet the Calgarian behind Team Canada's World Cup 2026 jerseys

Team Canada's 2026 kit has been in the works since the last World Cup four years ago — and it's the brainchild of a Calgarian.

As the lead designer at Nike for Team Canada's latest look, Calgary-based Holly Gallacher was behind the designs of the national team's World Cup 2026 home and away jerseys.

"Usually it's a two-year lead time with a jersey design, but with the World Cup, because it's kind of special, it's a four-year lead time," she told The Calgary Eyeopener.

And all that work paid off when Gallacher got to see B.C. Place packed with fans wearing that design during Canada's triumphant 6-0 win over Qatar last Thursday.

"It was kind of a pinch-me moment, you know, seeing so many fans wearing it," she said.

Gallacher said designing the kits involved lengthy consultations with players, coaches and fans.

She said home kits traditionally need to be classic and for everyone. And for Canada, it had to be red.

But rather than just sticking a Maple Leaf on the jersey, she created a fragmented mosaic pattern.

"Nike is all about, you know, kind of looking to the future, breaking boundaries, being a bit dangerous," she said.

Check out the FIFA World Cup uniforms for Canada’s men's team

The pattern on the home kit is meant to represent people, communities and everyone coming together as one under the symbol of the Maple Leaf, said Gallacher, who's originally from Scotland but says Canada welcomed her with open arms.

And for the away kit, Gallacher said she had the opportunity to flex her creative muscles some more.

She said the players explicitly requested a black kit because it made them feel confident.

"Nike's all about storytelling, so we need a narrative to back it up," she said.

"This new generation of players, like