Nike Unveils World Cup Kits With Bolder U.S. Team Look

The uniforms that the U.S. men’s national soccer team will don at the World Cup takes inspiration from the American sports landscape, Nike said. The new kit borrows from basketball. And football. Even hockey.

“Anchored in a timeless red, white and blue color scheme, the home kit draws inspiration from the United States’ diversity and storied legacy across a variety of sports, leagues and associations,” Nike said Thursday in a news release.

Key for the mostly white home uniform are the red and blue stripes on the sleeve and socks, meant to allude to classic striping details found across American sports. The Nike swooshes on the sleeve tie to American football jerseys, the enlarged center crest coincides with the bold graphics in basketball, and the cut-and-sew construction and pattern on the shoulder and sleeve matches that of a hockey jersey. Nike said the block lettering for the kit’s name and number is a “timeless” look.

The blue away kit is meant to add a touch of the streetwear industry and bring a youthful print to the kit. The ice-dying technique used on the shirt allows for the pattern across the uniform.

Additional details, such as the wordmark “States United” on the inner back of the shirt’s collar, offer added touches to the design.

The game uniforms for all Nike-sponsored national federations use the brand’s Dri-Fit ADV. The engineering includes a seamless design for “distraction-free play” and tuned reinforcement and venting. More than 75% of the entire apparel collection is made with 100% recycled polyester.

“Our new team collections represent the latest example of how we serve athletes with pinnacle product innovation form pitch to street,” Scott Dixon, vice-president of global men’s football, said in a news release.”

From the red and white of Portugal and Poland, the bold blue and yellow for the Dutch, classic blues and white for France, the famous checkered pattern of Croatia, the trilogy of Brazilian colors and plenty more, Nike brings a colorful expression to World Cup 2022 in Qatar.

Other brands have also started rolling out designs, such as Puma’s templated World Cup kits. Adidas and New Balance are among other brands debuting new looks.