Historical Football Kits

FIFA World Cup

USA, Canada, Mexico

In 2016, as part of his campaign for the FIA presidency, Gianni Infantino, proposed expanding the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams. Opponents argued that the competition was already too big and enlarging it further would only dilute the quaility. Critics argued that Infantino motives were political rather than based on the interests of the game.

Originally it was proposed to have 16 groups of three teams but this was discarded because of the risk of collusion and instead there would be 12 groups of four. The top two team advance to the new Round of 32 along with the eight best ranked this place teams.

This is the first World Cup since 2002 to be co-hosted by multiple nations. Eleven cities in the United States will host matches, three in Mexico and two in Canada. The introduction of dynamic ticket pricing along with the high cost of long distance travel between venues not to mention the hike in the cost of hotels mean this will be the most expensive competition for fans there has ever been.

In June 2025 the Trump admistration reinstated a travel ban which prevents citizens of 39, mainly muslim countries from entering the United States, including four of the nations that have qualified for the finals. Officials later clarified that players, coaches and support staff would be exempted from the ban but ordinary citizens from the prosribed countries would not. At the time of writing (April 2026) the bombing of Iran by Israel and the United States means the participation of Iran in in doubt.

As is now customary, the major kit providers have sought to incorporate national and cutural features in their designs while several new templates have been introduced. Most notably have introduced a much thicker version of their familiar three strip trim (Tiro 26) and reinstated the trefoil logo on some of their kits. Concern has been expressed about the extreme heat likely to be experienced during the competition and kit providers have focussed on incorporating fabric rechnology designed to avoid players over heating.

Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H | Group I |Group J | Group K | Group L | Knock Out Stages

2022 Tournament | World Cup Index

Group A

Mexico

Designer: Adidas

Mexico's Tiro 26 first choice kit harks back to 1998 with a stunning Aztec inspired motif while the alternative is more restrained and features the revived trefoil logo. As one of the three co-hosts, Mexico play all of their group matches within the country.

South Africa

Designer: Adidas

Bafana Bafana have also opted for the Tiro 26 design which incorporates a tonal graphic consisting of diagonal lines arranged in a diamond shape that is supposed to evoke the linguistic diversity of the country. Seems like a bit of a stretch to me. The change kit is in dark green with yellow ochre trim, colours more usually associated with the Springboks rugby team. The tonal graphic appears again within the lighter stripes of the shirt.

South Korea

Designer: Nike

The Tigers of Asia have, fittingly enough, added a tiger print motif to their Global Red shirts, now teamed with black shorts. This being Nike, some purple prose is called for and we learn that the design is "inspired by idea of a tiger ambush - a mindset rooted in surprise, precision and collective strength." The alternative is is in "Space Purple" with pale lime green trimmings and represents an abstract floral pattern. Both strips are in Nike's latest template which features piping that flows from the shoulder seam down the back and curves to the side of the shirt.

Czech Republic

Designer: Puma

Puma's new template has a pair of diagonal bars running upwards from the armpit. Not their finest hour I think. First choice is in deep red with dark blue shorts and socks and silver detailing. It's supposed to be a tribute to their 1996 outfit which they wore when they finished as runners up in the Euros. The resemblance is not immediately obvious. The change strip is altogether more interesting as it features a sublimated pattern based on traditional Bohemian crystal, with dark gold detailing.

Group B

Canada

Designer: Nike

Canada's kits have to feature the maple leaf and their first choice shirts have this in a bold half-and-half design on the front of the shirt. Nike's latest detailing is present in black. The change strip really is stunning. The black base colour is punctuated by what appears to be a random, heavily distressed white graphic. On close inspection this turns out to be maple leaf patterns rendered in cracked ice. Whoever came up with this concept deserves their bonus.

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Designer: Kelme

Bosnia & Herzegovina are appearing in the World Cup finals for the second time having previusly qualified in 2014. They came via the European play-offs after eliminating Wales and Italy in away games after penalty shoot-outs. They demonstrated that they can defend doggedly and also dominate play against supposedly superior opponents (they are ranked 65th in the world). The new Kelme strips were introduced for the play-offs and feature a dramatic dragon-inspired pattern sublimated into the front of the shirts. They are known Zmajevi (the Dragons).

Qatar

Designer: Adidas

After their dismal showing in their own World Cup four years ago, Qatar's appearance in 2026 shows how the expanded format has allowed sub-standard teams to reach the finals. They play in their usual all-maroon colours with a zig-zag motif taken from their national flag. The white alternative is just a plain old Adidas strip out of the catalogue. Even their nickname is disappointing - the Maroon One.

Switzerland

Designer: Puma

Although Switzerland have yet to trouble the later stages of the Euros or the World Cup, they generally manage to qualify and in recent years they have pulled off some notable results and are currently ranked 19th by FIFA. They generally play in the national colours of red and white but this time round they have broken with tradition by introducing a flamboyant second choice strip in pale blue/grey with abstract neon green patterning on the shirt that is supposed to evoke the coutry's mountainous terrain.

Group C

Brazil

Designer: Nike

There's a lot to like in the Seleção's latest outfits. The first choice shirt is the proper shade of Canary Yellow while the shorts are the bright blue we saw in the Pelé era. An additional splash of neon green is added alongside the traditional shade to create an elegant grace note so 10/10 for that one. Turning to the alternative we have a real head turner in black and royal blue with neon green trim. The apparently random pattern is in fact based on the skin markings of the poison dart frog. I can confidently state that this is the first time that a football kit design has been inspired by an amphibian. This strip carries the Jordan "Jumpman" logo, a brand that is a partnership between Nike and the basketball player, Michael Jordan.

Morocco

Designer: Puma

Morocco and Senegal have been embroiled in a furious dispute following the chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final in January when the Senegalese walked off following a controversial penalty decision but went on to win in extra time. Initially the Confederation of African Football (CAF) levied fines amounting to over $1 million but allowed to result to stand. Two months later CAF reversed their decision and awarded the trophy to Morocco, a decision that was later overturned by the Court for Abritation in Sport.

Controversy notwithstanding, Puma have delivered two excellent strips. The first choice is in the national colours with traditional patterns printed into the collar and cuffs. This is taken further on the white alternative which has an exquisite pattern in pale gold inspired by traditional Moroccan Zellige tilework.

Haiti

Designer: Saeta

Because of the dreadful political and security crisis, Haiti had to play all their "home" games in neutral countries. The fact that they quaified for the finals directly for the first time since 1974 is a remarkable achievement. The Colombian supplier, Saeta, has delivered three kits in identical templates. The key detail is a graphic in the bottom right of the shirt which shows the heroes of Haiti's revolution raising the flag of independence in 1804. Haiti is subject to the travel embargo so the only Haitians who can attend matches, aside from officials, are those legally settled in the United States.

Scotland

Designer: Adidas

Given that Scotland have not reached the World Cup finals since 1998 you would think Adidas would have made a bit more of an effort with the first choice kit. There is a tonal pattern based on the cross of St. Andrews embossed into the shirts which qualifies them as bespoke bu this feature is invisible at a distance. Furthermore, many supporters prefer their team to play in white shorts and have at least some red in the socks and I agree with them. I'm filing this one under "bland". The change strip takes us back to the 90's when salmon pink and purple seemed a brave choice. Adidas' version is rather more restrained than the Umbro kit of that period but I suppose we are all older and wiser now.

Group D

United States

Designer: Nike

Nike are the archetypal American sports leisure brand and have been supplying kits to the USMNT since 1995. They have looked for inspiration to 1994, when the United States hosted the World Cup for the first time. Ironicaly those kits were provided by Adidas. The first choice jersey evokes the American flag blowing in the wind and is likely to be a best seller. Adidas' change shirt in 1994 had an innovative denim effect into which were printed large white stars. Nike have turned that idea on its head with a striking all-over black strip with red piping, silver highlights and tonal stars woven into the fabric. And there we have it ladies and gentlemen - stars and stripes.

Paraguay

Designer: Puma

Paraguay always, always, always play in red and white stripes matched with blue shorts and over the years designers have tried to come up with novel twists to keep things fresh. Unfortunately I think Puma have not risen to the challenge here. The distressed stripes look scruffy to my eye and the new side panels break things up to no good effect. On the other hand the halliucinogenic change kit is very striking.

This the first time in 16 years that La Albirroja have appeared in the World Cup finals.

Australia

Designer: Nike

The Socceroos have appeared in the finals of every World Cup since 2006, the year they joined the Asian Football Confederation. Having adopted a quite startling design from First Nation Artist, Reko Rennie, last year they have reverted to a more traditional look for this tournament. Their change strip is a different matter, with a shirt that grades from coral pink to teal. This may not be one for the purists but it is certainly original.

Türkiye

Designer: Nike

Türkiye are making their first appearance in the finals since 2002 when they finished in third place. They arrived here through the European play-offs by beating Romania and Kosovo. Their main strip is in deep red with a flowing tonal graphic printed into the front of the shirt. This is interrupted by a solid deep red band upon which the national flag is placed. The alternative is white with a red band and trim. They are known as Ay-Yıldızlılar (The Crescent Stars) and Bizim Çocuklar (Our Children, which is sweet).

Group E

Germany

Designer: Adidas

Die Mannschaft may have disappointed since they last won the World Cup in 2014 but they can never be written off. Adidas and their subsidiary, Erima, have supplied their kit since 1971 but next year Nike will take over the contract. It's therefore fitting that the German company should produce two of the best outfits to grace this tournament. The first kit shows just how good Tiro 26 can look when a bit of imagination is applied, in this case the application of a chevron in the colours of the German flag, a reference to some of the iconic jerseys worn in the 90s. The change strip in navy blue and mint is entirely original and shows a lot of attention to detail.

Curaçao

Designer: Adidas

The Caribbean island of Curaçao is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, consisting of several island territories, previously the colony of Netherlands Antilles. They are the smallest nation by size and population ever to have qualified for the World Cup finals. They topped their qualifying group after drawing 0-0 with Jamaica in their final game in November 2025. Adidas' policy is that finalists should have bespoke kits and the process of designing and producing these to replace the Teamwear kits worn in the qualifiers apparently takes six months. The pale, creamy yellow change strip features vibrant, multi-coured trim that represents the brightly painted architecture of the country's urban landscape. A blue strip is expected in May.

Côte d'Ivoire

Designer: Puma

Les Éléphants have won the Africa Cup of Nations three times (hence the stars above the crest) and are appearing in the World Cup finals for the fourth time. They qualified directly after finishing top of their group. Their first kit is, as usual all-orange with green trim and white detailing. The body has an overall blotchy print that supposedly draws on traditional textiles and symbols but I don't see it. The away shirt is far more successful in celebrating Ivoirian culture with sun bursts, coconut palms and banana trees printed into the fabric in muted orange and green tones. This is one of the outstanding strips of the tournament.

Ecuador

Designer: Marathon

The CONMEBAL qualifying competition is different to that of the other conferderations. The ten member nations play each on a round robin basis home and away. The top six qualify for the finals and the seventh team goes into the intercontinental play-off. Ecuador finished in second place despite having three points deducted for using false documents for Byron Castillo in the last World Cup.

At first glance La Tricolor's first strip is deceptively simple but there is a wealth of detailing hidden in the trim. The alternative is also strong on subtlety. The base colour of slate grey is relieved with copper detailing and applications. Although they have been regarded as one of South America's weaker teams, in recent years they have achieved some excelent results including victory over Argentina in their final qualifier.

Group F

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Group G

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Group H

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Group I

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Group J

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Group K

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Group L

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