diff --git a/apps/web/src/arcade-games/know-your-world/components/MapRenderer.tsx b/apps/web/src/arcade-games/know-your-world/components/MapRenderer.tsx
index 41487d02..2337cf76 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/arcade-games/know-your-world/components/MapRenderer.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/arcade-games/know-your-world/components/MapRenderer.tsx
@@ -1454,9 +1454,6 @@ export function MapRenderer({
           aspectRatio: `${viewBoxWidth} / ${viewBoxHeight}`,
         }}
       >
-        {/* Background */}
-        <rect x="0" y="0" width="100%" height="100%" fill={isDark ? '#111827' : '#f3f4f6'} />
-
         {/* Render all regions (included + excluded) */}
         {[...mapData.regions, ...excludedRegions].map((region) => {
           const isExcluded = excludedRegionIds.has(region.id)