Kit design is an often under appreciated aspect of sports. Great jerseys can turn an indifferent fan into a die-hard supporter if the colour scheme and style is just right. While the primary focus in Qatar will be on the players showcasing their skill, a select few will be doing it decked out in kits with the perfect combination of flair and innovation.
Where would football be without kit designs? When we think of football’s most iconic moments, the first thing that comes to mind is the kit that moment happened in. It’s for this reason that kit design isn’t simply a matter of appeal, it’s a matter of creating a backdrop for moments that will go down in history.
Every World Cup promises to usher in a new era of kits that will go on to represent not just the nation they’re made for, but the era of football itself. This World Cup is no different, with 64 new designs for 32 teams, with some that will undeniably become classics and others that will probably fall flat.
We’ve compiled a list of the ten best kits at this year’s World Cup. From fitting homages to outrageously bold to over-the-top experimental, this World Cup has some great kits. These are the jersey’s you’ll want to get your hands on.
Germany Home
Kit Designer: Adidas
Germany’s new home kit is an homage to the nation’s first kit from 1908. The jersey features a thick black centre strip flanked by a contrasting white. Germany’s crest centres the black stripe, with the crest, number and adidas logo falling upon the dark backdrop in bold gold. The neck trim contains the colours of Germany’s flag, red, black and gold. While Adidas’ traditional three stripes grace the jersey’s shoulders.
Adidas has set a goal of sustainability ahead of the World Cup. As a result, Germany’s kit is made out of polyester to reduce plastic waste. This jersey isn’t just stylish it’s also sustainable.
Brazil Home
Kit Designer: Nike
At first glance, Brazil’s home kit looks fairly ordinary, sticking with the typical yellow, green and blue colours of Brazil’s flag. But this shirt is anything but ordinary. Subtle white jaguar prints cover the jersey, adding an element of style to the classic kit that we’ve never seen before. Blue and green trims on the collar and sleeves complete a kit that might go down as one of the best in Brazil’s star-studded history.
It seems Nike is going for subtle style choices rather than bold experiments. With the kind of kits that get better the longer you look at them. And it works.
Mexico Home and Away
Kit Designer: Adidas
Would it be too bold of a claim to say that both Mexico’s home and away kits aren’t just the best we’ll see in Qatar, but the best we’ve ever seen? Mexico’s excellent kits are so good its impossible to pick which one is better, so let’s look at both.
The team’s home kit utilises the typical dark green associated with Mexican football, but it shakes things up by incorporating a zigzagging pattern in an homage to Aztec art. The contouring of the pattern creates dramatic salient points that will immediately catch your eye.
Mexico’s away kit is similarly bold and innovative. If the home jersey was subtle in its ode to Aztec art, the away kit has gone in the opposite direction. Aztec art engulfs the red and white jersey in a daring design. The homage doesn’t stop there, ancient Aztec diety Quetzalcoatl’s serpentine form gracing the collar.
Mexico’s jerseys are expected to be the most popular amongst neutral fans at the World Cup and its clear to see why.
South Korea Away
Kit Designer: Nike
South Korea’s away kit is ambitious. A black base is contrasted with striking blue, yellow and red strokes that erratically plaster the jersey like spilled paint. The jersey has been compared to fireworks in the nights sky, perhaps representing the explosive playstyle that South Korea is about to bring to the world’s biggest stage.
Argentina Home
Kit Designer: Adidas
Argentina’s home kit testifies to the old saying ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. Argentina’s conventional baby blue and white might be the most iconic colour scheme in football. This edition of Argentina’s home kit respects the classic, but still manages to look new. With innovative navy blue lines accentuating the surrounding lighter blue and providing a refreshing take on a timeless style.
Lionel Messi is at the tail end of one the greatest footballing careers the world has ever seen. Despite a packed resume of awards and trophies, winning the World Cup is the one accomplishment that has so far alluded Messi. He’s already announced that Qatar will be his last World Cup, so if we are ever going to see the legend lift a World Cup trophy, it could be in this kit.
France Away
Kit designer: Nike
France’s away kit proves that a white jersey doesn’t need to be boring. From a distance it might look like a plain white shirt, but a closer look reveals an impressive homage to the nation’s history. Featuring a series of impressions of France’s iconic landmarks and scenes from the French Revolution, Nike has really outdone itself with this one.
Ghana Away
Kit Designer: Puma
In 2010, Ghana had the support of all of Africa when they defied the odds to reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup. Ghanaian fans will be hoping their team can replicate that performance this time around, but whether or not they can, Ghana’s player’s will look good.
The first and only Puma kit on this list certainly makes an impression. Ghana’s away jersey integrates a bright red base with a green and yellow box, framing an interpretation of the nation’s flag, along with crest and jersey numbers.
Denmark Alternate
Kit Designer: Hummel
Denmark has gone for something completely different this World Cup. The team’s third kit will be completely monochrome black in honour of the migrant workers who died during the construction of infrastructure for the World Cup. The kit is designed by German brand Hummel, who wanted to make a statement about Qatar’s human rights record.
Denmark’s jersey doesn’t just make a statement, it’s also a bold, minimalist look that actually works and is certain to be popular.
Australia Home
Kit Designer: Nike
After years of experimental designs and missed opportunities, the Socceroos home kit is a return to the iconic green and gold. Australia’s 2018 kits featured the same colour shirts and shorts. The result was a seemingly monochrome kit without much flair. While it may have been refreshing, the style didn’t leave a lasting impression.
For this World Cup, the Socceroos home kit features bolder colours than ever before. A different take on the typical muted scheme, Nike’s revamped design is sure to grab attention in a triumphant return to Australia’s iconic design.
The 2022 World Cup features some of the best kits we’ve ever seen. While each team’s performance in Qatar won’t go down in history, every team has the chance to create a memorable kit that will headline this era of football.
