2026 World Cup: Thierry Henry Apologizes to Nigerians for “Bad Luck” Remarks

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has clarified remarks he made about Nigeria during the 2026 World Cup.

Henry was speaking with popular streamer iShowSpeed, who arrived at the match between the United States and Paraguay— which finished 4‑1—wearing a U.S. shirt and Nigerian shorts.

Seeing the combination, Henry jokingly told Speed that it was “bad luck.”

He later explained that his comment referred to wearing kits from two different teams, not to Nigeria itself.

On social media he wrote: “I needed to clarify something because I don’t think people understand when you say stuff sometimes or when a joke is a joke.”

“So I just spoke yesterday about the shorts of Nigeria and the top of the US. I just said to him that it is bad luck to break the set.”

“Could have been the shorts of France, Italy or Spain, I would have said the same thing. I was just having a little joke with him, saying that it would be bad luck. Not Nigeria is bad luck, but to break the set, because you go as a set.”

“I even said that I love Naija. And by the way, I do. I have respect for Nigeria and the people there. A lot of Arsenal fans, by the way, are out there, so don’t misunderstand that stuff, please.”

“Nigeria is never bad luck. I was just saying breaking the set is bad luck with any other shorts.”