Belgium – Football Kit Geek

Well that’s it, the 2026 World Cup is over, and after a staggering 104 Games Spain have been crowned World Cup Winners for the 2nd time after their win in the final against Argentina.

It is time for me to take a look at the Kits worn through-out the tournament and those worn in the knock out stages.

I have separate posts about the group stages…

1st Round of Group Games can be found here

2nd Round of Group Games can be found here

Overall Group Stage review can be found here

A few stats….

Total Kits Used

Kits Worn in Total – 118
New Kits in Knock out games – 16
Primary Kits in Total – 71
Secondary Kits in Total – 41
3rd Kits in Total – 6
2 Teams to wear five different kit looks
1 Team to wear four different kit looks
17 teams to wear three different kits
25 Teams wore two different kits
3 Teams have worn a single kit look
5 Teams in Primary, Secondary and Third Kits.

There have been a total of 118 kits used throughout the tournament in the 104 games.

We have seen “Primary” Kits (and variations) used 60% and “Secondary” kits (and variations) used 35% of the time and 3rd kits used 5%.

Colombia and Norway both wore 5 kit variations, I have a dedicated review of these kits here

Ecuador were the only team to wear 4 different kit looks, having worn these looks in their 4 games so each kit was worn just the once, with 3 different Primary Kit looks!

17 Nations wore 3 different kit variations in the tournament with 4 of those teams (Mexico, Canada, Cape Verde and Panama) wearing Primary, Secondary and Third Kits. The remaining teams wore variations of either Primary or Secondary Kits!

Just 3 Teams in the same kit for their 2026 World Cup games, Iran, Uzebekistan and Ivory Coast, with Ivory Coast being the one team to wear the same kit in more than just 3 games, having made the Round of 32.

Knock Out Round Fixtures

Round of 32

Round of 16

Quarter-Finals

Semi-Finals

Bronze Medal Match / Final

Looking at the teams journeys in a little more detail by group…

GROUP A – 9 Kits in total

No Additional kts worn in the knock out rounds!

GROUP B – 9 Kits in total

No Addtional kits from this group either, Canada wearing their Secondary kit in both their games, with Switzerland reaching the Quarter-Finals wearing the Primary Kit for five games in a row.

GROUP C – 9 Kits in total

No Additional kts worn in the knock out rounds!

GROUP D – 10 Kits in total

Paraguay ending the competition being the only team not to wear their default Primary Kit, wearing alternative white shorts and socks in their Last 16 game against France.

GROUP E – 10 Kits in total

Ecuador made it four in four with another Primary Kit variations, Ivory Coast become the only team to make the Knockout rounds wearing just one kit variation and Germany ended their tournament wearing alternative white shorts for an all white look, their last World Cup game in Adidas for the foreseeble future!

GROUP F – 9 Kits in total

Japan used their popular Secondary Kit with alternative black socks, Netherland ended their tournament only wearing their Primary Kit in two different looks!

GROUP G – 8 Kits in total

Begium who wore their Primary Kit in all their group games, repeated the pattern with their secondary kit in their knockout round games. Egypt wore their Primary Kit in it’s default look for the only time in their Round of 32 game against Australia.

GROUP H – 11 Kits in total

Spain wore their Secondary in it’s second variation, wearing the default deep red shorts and alternative white socks in their Semi-Final against France.

GROUP I – 12 Kits in total

Norway wore three different kit looks in their three knock out games as they reached the Quarter-Finals for the first time, wearing their 3rd Kit, Defaut Primary Kit and Primary Kit with alternative navy shorts (the 3rd different colour shorts worn this tournament with this kit).

France ended the tournament not wearing the same kit in two consecutive games, alternating between Primary, All Blue variation and Secondary kits in that pattern…

GROUP J – 10 Kits in total

Argentina went with alterntive white shorts and socks with their Primary Kit for four of their five knock out games as the reached the final. Austria wore their Secondary kit for the first time in their Round of 32 game.

GROUP K – 10 Kits in total

Colombia made it five in five, wearing different kit looks in all their games, including four different Primary Kit looks. Portugal’s only deviation from their Primary Kit was in the Round of 32, wearing alternative shorts with their secondary kit.

GROUP L – 10 Kits in total

England wore their Primary Kit in all their Knockout games, wearing Secondary Shorts to create the more common white / navy / white look in their last 16 game against Mexico. Ghana wearing their Secondary kit for the only time in their Round of 32 game!

Overall kit highlights from the Knock Out Rounds…

Lets start with my favourite kit of the tournament, Norway… worn with three different pair of short in it’s four appearences!

Ecuador made it four kits in four games with their 3rd different Primary Kit Variation in the round of 32 game against Mexico.

Colombia wore four different variations of their Primary Kit, completing the set with the default (blue shorts / red socks) and alternative (white) shorts and socks.

Ivory Coast were the only team to reach the knockout phase to wear just the single kit look, their defeat to Norway meant they wore their Primary Kit in all four of their games.

Belgium, who were one of the teams to wear a single kit look in their group games, repeated this again, however this time with their Secondary Kit, wearing this look in all three of their knockout round games as they reached the Quarter Finals!

Referee Shirts

One final item I have been tracking is the Referee Shirts, there have been 10 different referee shirts used, no surprise the black version (with just white Adidas stripes) was the most common, worn 30 time in 104 games!

There was a special pink shirt with gold stripes worn 4 times, including the 1000th World Cup Finals game, the Semi-Finals and Bronze Medal Match. With a traditional black shirt with gold stripes and detailing wore in the Final.

And that’s it, 2026 World Cup is over….! What do we do now??

Let me know your thoughts and comments over at my socials.

X – @kit_geek or Bluesky – Kit Geek

Thanks for the support on my site through out the World Cup.

In terms of qualifying the “Road to World Cup 2026” is well underway, however the real start of World Cup Fever kicked off this week with Adidas launching this International Kits for the next two year cycle, so lets take a closer look at some of these kits and just for fun I have rated them!

Germany – Let’s kick off with one of the most anticipated kits, with this being the final Adidas Kit for it’s Home Nation for the foreseeable future (never say never). For me it does not disappoint and is one of the best kits of this launch, a look taking inspiration from 1990 and 1994 World Cup’s, this is going to be a hit for fans and football shirt collectors, and the long sleeve version is simply wonderful… and check the socks out, they will not disappoint!

Kit Geek Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Argentina – World Cup holders Argentina have a thick stripe to this shirt, the thicker Adidas Stripes (as you can see on all shirts) being black take a little some focus away from the overall look of the shirt, especially as the stripes are blue in the shorts, overall it’s OK but for me should have been better.

Kit Geek Rating ⭐⭐⭐

Spain – This is my favourite of the Adidas kits launched, a Spain shirt with a twist. The use of dark blue raglan sleeves here works really well, the Adidas stripes in the traditional Spanish colours are fantastic and are the only Country that have this take to the “3 Stripes”, the pinstripe in the body of the shirt is just subtle enough that lifts the overall look…

Kit Geek Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Italy – Italy have not qualified for the World Cup since Adidas has supplied their kits, so this (as long as they do qualify this time around) will be the first time The “Azzurri” have donned the 3 Stripes at this stage. Again another kit that is passable but the gold detailing does not work for me, especially with the opportunity to use the three stripes in the Italian Flag colours.

Kit Geek Rating ⭐⭐

Belgium – Belgium shirts often use different shades of red, this time is a vibrant red, paired with black and yellow detailing in collars, cuffs give a nice overall look to this kit, black shorts and socks as well and this is one of the nicest overall looks from this launch.

Kit Geek Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mexico – Returning to Green as Primary colour (as standard within World Cup Cycles), this shirt is another looking back to the 90s, with this “Aztec” pattern in the body of the shirt. Nice use of red / white within the collars and cuffs gives a nice balance to what is ticks all the boxes of what you would expect form a Mexico Shirt, but overall my least favourite of the shirts we are looking at here.

Kit Geek Rating ⭐

Japan – Adidas and Japan is often a partnership that delivers, although this shirt is fairly simple in it’s design compared to some recent years, it works in it elegance, some nice design elements, I would have like to have seen the cuffs with red / white trim (as the collar) but overall a solid kit.

Kit Geek Rating ⭐⭐⭐

Colombia – A fairly standard looking kit for Colombia, the use of red Adidas stripes and then just the blue trim within the collar and cuffs works very well in my eyes. Interesting pattern within the shirt which are “butterfly motifs inspired by magical realism”, this adds some depth to overall look.

Kit Geek Rating ⭐⭐⭐

Wales – With many kits looking to the 90s, its refreshing in some ways to see a kit that looks to the 80’s, with this Wales kit. Again using green as one of the accent colours works well and lifts the kit from standard template to something with a bespoke feel. The central chest band design element is great and this one of the few shirts that has National Crest and Adidas Logo centrally placed.

Kit Geek Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sweden – I like this one, and is inspired by the 70’s (apparently). The pattern in the shirt is inspired by the “popular flower stitching found on jeans and traditional Swedish folk dresses from the era”. What works for me is the use of blue across the shoulders, not going full raglan but this use of colour and then with the white Adidas stripes works well in my eyes.

Kit Geek Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Peru – The Peru kit is one that is difficult to much with given it’s iconic sash, this is a solid effort with some detailing with sash itself that is nice but the choice of design in the overall sash, making it blocky may take some getting used too, maybe they were inspired by my kit illustrations which use this look with sash shirts (of course not!).

Kit Geek Rating ⭐⭐⭐

Scotland – Adidas and Scotland is another one of the relationships that just feels right and I have really liked the kits produced in the 15 years they have been in partnership. This one is another great shirt, with a really nice subtle “Saltire” within the shirt’s body. My only complaint with the kit is the that this look is all Navy Blue, I preference is seeing Scotland in white shorts and red socks.

Kit Geek Rating ⭐⭐⭐

Algeria – The Algeria shirt is another kit that uses colours of it’s flag within the collar and cuffs, this use of green and red really lifts the shirt in my eyes. An interesting pattern with the shirt and certainly helps raise the overall look away from a standard looking template.

Kit Geek Rating ⭐⭐⭐

Costa Rica – There is plenty going on here, a vibrant looking shirt with pink detailing being inspired by “Guaria Morada orchid”, the country’s national flower. I think this shirt will prove very popular with Kit Lovers next summer, and one we will see a lot of.

Kit Geek Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Northern Ireland – This is an interesting design, there is blend of green tones with a pattern inspired by the “transatlantic ships traditionally built in Belfast’s shipyards”. The look creates a halved shirt, something a little different in International Football Shirts, so I am all for those choices. Matched with green shorts and white socks, so as regular readers will know I love a contrasting sock look!

Kit Geek Rating ⭐⭐⭐