World Cup ’26: Kit Review

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.

World Cup ’26: Colombia & Norway

The 2026 World Cup has given us countries using a variety of Kit Looks in their games, with 45 of the 48 nations wearing more than a single kit, but there are two Countries that have worn a total of five different Kit variations in their appearences at this World Cup, Colombia and Norway!

Colombia….

We will start with Colombia, as they wore their five different looks in their five games, meaning they played this tournament without repeating their look in any appearence, this included wearing their Primary Kit in four different combinations using alternative shorts and socks.

They only wore their Secondary Kit once in their opening game against Uzebekistan, this was worn with alternative neon yellow socks (default being Navy).

Their next four games saw Colombia in their Primary Shirt, firstly against against DR Congo, wear they wore alternative white shorts and their default red socks.

Their final Group K game against Portugal gave us another alternative look, with white socks being used this time. The socks need to be called out for their wonderful turnover which incorporates the Colombian National Flag.

Into the Knockout Rounds, and their Round of 32 game against Ghana was their only game which we saw Colombia in their default primary look of yellow shirts, blue shorts and red socks.

Their final appearance, a penalty shoot out loss to Switzerland completed the Primary Combinations with the alternative white shorts and socks being used.

Norway….

Norway reached the Quarter Finals of the World Cup for the first time in this tournament, and with the expanded the competition that meant that they played six games in total to reach that stage, wearing their five kit looks in these games.

Firstly we have their Primary Kit with alternative red shorts and socks. This was worn twice in their Group Games, in the opening match against Iraq and final game against France, the only kit look they wore more than once.

Their second Group I game against Senegal was their only game in their Secondary Kit, the black out kit which is described by Nike as “inspired by Viking warriors, built to intimidate and channel Norway’s fearless spirit”, the game secured their progression into Knockout rounds of the Competition.

Their Round of 32 Game against Ivory Coast gave us their first ever look at Norway’s Third Kit, they were one of the five Nations to wear Primary, Secondary and Third Kits in this competition, the all white kit is a simple reversal of their Secondaty Kit.

Moving into the Last 16, the Norwegians faced Brazil and this was the only game that saw them in their default Primary Look, with white shorts and navy socks, a look that would see them defeat the 5 Time Winners Brazil!

It was the first time Norway had reached the Quarter Finals of the World Cup and facing England who are wearing All White as Default Primary look in this tournament, it was felt by FIFA that the Norway’s default look would not give enough contrast between the kits, so another alternative pair of navy shorts were brought onto the table.

The Navy shorts used for a cracking kit look and although they have worn this look before the tournament, is this the first time three different shorts have been use with a single kit at a World Cup Finals, I will investigate!

My final thought here is for me this Norway Shirt is the best shirt at the World Cup, and to be able to see it used in three different Kit Variations is a treat in my eyes, so thank you Norway for making this Kit Geek a happy one!

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

X – @kit_geek or Bluesky – Kit Geek

Other Posts you may enjoy

World Cup ’26 – Match 1

World Cup ’26 – Match 2

World Cup ’26 – Group Stage

World Cup 2022

England Kit Review 2026

England Kit History

World Cup ’26: Group Stage, Kit Review

We are at that point where the first set of teams are heading home, the Group Stage concluded on 27th June (well 28th June in Europe). 16 Teams have been eliminated, as we head into the Knockout phase of the competition.

It is time for me to take a look at the Kits worn through-out the Group Stages and those worn in the last round of games.

1st Round of Group games can be found here

2nd Round of Group games can be found here

Overview of Kits

Total Kits Used

  • Kits Worn in Total – 102
  • New Kits in Round 3 of games – 19
  • Primary Kits in Total – 61
  • Secondary Kits in Total – 36
  • 3rd Kits in Total – 5
  • 12 teams to wear three different kits in their three group games
  • 30 Teams wore two different kits
  • 6 Teams have worn a single kit look
  • 4 Teams in Primary, Secondary and Third Kits.

Match 3 Fixtures

Looking into the Groups in more detail…

Group A – 9 Kits

Mexico are the stand out team in Group A, wearing Primary, Secondary and Third Kits in their 3 games. South Africa wore just their Primary Kit, but with alternative yellow shorts in 2 of their games. Both Czechia and South Korea wore Primary Kits twice and Secondary Kits just the once.

Group B – 9 Kits

Canada, the second co-hosts to wear all three (Primary, Secondary and Third) Kits in their Group Games are the majorty talking point with regards to Kit usage in Group B. The remaining teams wore Primary / Secondary Kits with no variations, with Switzerland wearing their Primary Kit twice and Qatar, Bosnia & Hertzegovina both wearing their secondary kits twice.

Group C – 9 Kits

Another Group with 9 Kits in total, and another team with 3 different kits in their 3 games, this time Brazil wore a variation of their Primary Kit with alternative white shorts against Scotland. The other teams were in 2 different kit looks, Morocco in their Primary Kit twice, Haiti in their Secondary Kit twice and Scotland wore their Primary Kit twice and wore their Secondary Kit with alternative salmon socks.

Group D – 9 Kits

Our fourth group in a row with 9 Kits and USA complete the hat-trick of Hosts wearing 3 different kits in their group games, however unlike Mexico and Canada who wore three distinct kits, USA done this with a variation of their Primary Kit with white alternative shorts worn in their opening game. Australia wore their Primary Kit in all their games but with an all (canary) yellow look used. Paraguay wore their Primary Kit just once and did so with alternative white shorts.

Group E – 8 kits

Our first group with under 9 Kits, however the run of teams wearing 3 different Kits continues with Ecuador, who wore a mash up of the Secondary / Third Kits, Primary Kit in all yellow and finally their Primary Kit in it’s default look in their final group game against Germany. Ivory Coast are our first team to wear a single kit look in the Group Stage and Curaçao wear one of the teams with the most popular secondary kits in the competition, however they did not get to use it, wearing 2 variations of their Primary kit in their games.

Group F – 8 Kits

Group F, provided each team in 2 different Kit looks… Netherlands and Japan both wore 2 variations of their Primary Kit, both wearing alternative shorts to create a single colour kit look in one game. Sweden wore their Secondary Kit once and used alternative yellow shorts.

Group G – 6 Kits

Group G is the first group where we saw a single kit worn and in fact there was two, with Belgium and Iran both only wearng their Primary Kit. Eygpt wore both their kits with different shorts, wearing their Primary twice with secondary shorts and vice versa when wearing their Secondary Kit. New Zealand wearing both their kits meant it was just the 6 Kits worn in this group!

Group H – 10 Kits

10 Kits in Group H the most kits in a single group, with both Uruaguay and Cape Verde in three different kits in their three games. Cape Verde wore Primary, Secondary and Third Kits, Uruguay started the tournament in their Primary Kit with alternative white shorts, and then wore both Primary and Secondary Kits in their default looks. Spain wore their popular Secondary Kit with alternative white shorts and socks when they used it in their final game.

Group I – 9 Kits

We are back to the 9 Kit Groups with Group I, France the team here to wear three different kit looks, with Primary and Secondary worn and then an “All Blue” alternative Primay look. Norway wore their Primary Kit twice (my favourite shirt of the tournament), however they wore it with alterntative red shorts and socks, this is the third different colour shorts they have worn in the kit’s short lifespan! Senegal wore their Primary Kit in all three games, but used green shorts in their opening game.

Group J – 9 Kits

Another 9 Kit Group, Holders Argentina started the tournament in the look they ended the 2022 Victory with alternative white shorts and socks, following this up with Primary and Secondary kits in their default looks. Austria were another team to wear their Primary Kit in all three games but with a single alternative look, this was with white shorts.

Group K – 7 Kits

Our first group with 7 Kits, however the main kit talking point was Colombia in this group, with three different kits used, however all three looks wear alternative looks, with Secondary worn with alternative neon socks, and Primary worn once with alternative white shorts and once with alternative white socks! Two teams were in a single kit look, Portugal and Uzebekistan, who wore their secondary all white kit in their three games. DR Congo, who progressed through to the knock out phase wearing their third kit in their final game.

Group L – 9 Kits

The final group and it’s another group with 9 kits (7 in total). There were two teams with three different kit looks, with Panama wearing Primary, Secondary and Third Kits, England wore Primary and Secondary Kits, and also wore their Primary Kit with their secondary shorts for a kit mash up! Ghana wore just the one kit, however this was their secondary kit.

Kit Highlights from Match 3

It looks like Guillermo Ochoa played his final game of his career, coming on as a sub in Mexico’s victory against Czechia, this is his 6th time being part of the Mexican World Cup Squad and wearing ths wonderful goalkeeper kit (with tri-colour Adidas Stripes and Trefoil logo) with a “Legcay” Player patch.

Scotland’s current use of all navy blue for their Primary Kit, meant that Brazil used alternative white shorts a look not worn at World Cups by Brazil since the 3rd/4th Place Off in 2014!

England wore a change kit at Major Championship Finals for the first time in 2906 Days, back to the 3rd/4th Placed Playoff game in 2018… 21 games in total!

Colombia wore alternative white socks in their final game against Portugal, these completed their use of alternative kit looks in their group games, and just look at those turnovers… wonderful stuff!

Norway against France was a really nice match up, Norway for the second game in wearing alternative red shorts and socks to create an “All Red” look.

With Germany moving to Nike in 2027, the US Based Brand delivered one of the ingenious pieces of marketing on Thursday, with German team playing at New Jersey Stadum this advert featuring a pixelated image of Jamal Musiala sailed down the neighbouring Hudson River.

That’s it, the Group Stages are done, we will be back at the end of the Tournament with a final round up of World Cup ’26 Kits!

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

X – @kit_geek or Bluesky – Kit Geek

Other Posts you may enjoy

World Cup ’26 – Match 1

World Cup ’26 – Match 2

World Cup 2022

England Kit Review 2026

England Kit History

World Cup ’26: Kit Review, Match 2

The second round of fixtures for the 2026 World Cup are now completed, 48 games down… 56 to go!

The use of “Home” and “Away” kit labels are do not feel right when it comes to International Tournaments, I will refer to them as “Primary” and “Secondary” choice kits.

You can found Round 1 of games here

Overview of Kits

There has been some additions of kits here, some 3rd Kits added (Mexico, Cape Verde).

Total Kits Used

  • Kits Worn in Total – 83
  • New Kits in Round 2 of games – 35
  • Primary Kits in Total – 54
  • Secondary Kits in Total – 26
  • 3rd Kits in Total – 3

Match 2 Fixtures

Kit Highlights

There have been 35 teams to wear two different kits in their opening two games, of which 12 of these wore the same kit in two different variations.

13 Teams have worn the same Kit (and variation) in their opening two games, just 27% of the teams competing, of these teams, Bosnia & Hertzegovina, Haiti, Paraguay, Uzebekistan and Ghana have worn their Secondary Kits in both games.

The game between Japan and Tunisia was the 1000th Game at World Cup Finals, and it was celebrated with special patches on both kits but also the referee’s kit, which along with the patch used gold Adidas stripes and trim!!

There have been some 3rd Kits seen in these round of games, with Mexico, Cape Verde and Panama all using their 3rd Kit!

Cape Verde against Uruaguay.

Mexico… A wonderful Kit Match Up, co-hosts Mexico playing against South Korea in Group A, both teams in change kits likely due to colourblind regulations but what we given was a fantastic pair of kits matched up against each other!

Panama in 3rd Kt against Croatia

Brazil took to the field in a World Cup game in a Kit that did not carry the Nike Logo for the first time since 1994 World Cup Final. Their Secondary Kit carries the Jordan “Jumpman” logo, part of the Nike Family but only previously seen on PSG Kits.

Ecuador made it two games in a row wearing a variation of their kits, after mashing up Secondary and 3rd Kits in their opening game, they wore all yellow as a Primary variation.

Colombia were another team to wear two variations of kits, having worn alternative socks with their Secondary Kit in the opening game, they wore their Primary Kit with alternative white shorts.

England wore their Primary Kit in what looks like traditional colours, but this is actually a mash up, the navy shorts are the shorts with their secondary kit, which as we predicted here could offer some interchangability to their kits.

That’s it for the second round of fixtures, we will be back with the final round of games in each of the groups.

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

X – @kit_geek or Bluesky – Kit Geek

Other Posts you may enjoy

World Cup ’26 – Match 1

World Cup 2022

England Kit Review 2026

England Kit History

World Cup ’26: Kit Review, Match 1

The World Cup is well and truly underway, we have now seen each of the 48 Nations take to the field, so time to have a look at the kits worn so far by each of the teams.

The use of “Home” and “Away” kit labels are do not feel right when it comes to International Tournaments, I will refer to them as “Primary” and “Secondary” choice kits.

Overview of Kits

A few stats….

For the total of 48 kit appearances, we have seen “Primary” Kits (and variations) used 87.5% and “Secondary” kits (and variations) used 12.5% of the time, with only four Nations in their secondary kit!

Primary – 34

Primary variations – 8 (South Africa, USA, Curaco, Netherlands, Uruguay, Senegal, Norway, Argentina)

Secondary – 14

Secondary variations – 4 (Scotland, Ecuador, Egypt, Colombia) 

One of the first things to call out are the use of patches by the teams, there are several different patches used by the nations, players and for each game.

Teams will wear patches in black or white on their right arm, it appears nations will these patches on Primary and Secondary Kits with alternative used on each, for example…. a nation will wear the white patch on their Primary Kit and Black Patch on their Secondary Kit.

Past winners will have Gold Patches, these six nations again will rotate, gold and white / gold patches with Primary and Secondary Kits.

The Left Arm will have unique patches for each game in tournament, with messages in different colours for each of the game as we move through the tournament.

There are other patches, which appear to be “stickers” on player shirts.

Players making their debut at the World Cup, will wear this patch.

There are also personal awards being worn as patches, Thibaut Courtois wore a “golden glove” patch on his for winning the award in the 2018 Competition.

Lionel Messi wore two patches on his shirt, a “Legacy” patch to celebrate becoming the first male player to play in 6 different World Cups and a bagde (under his captain’s armband) for this player of tournament wins (2014 / 2022).

Match 1 Fixtures

In the opening game between Mexico and South Africa, the South Africian team wore alternative yellow shorts with their Primary Kit, these are bespoke pair of shorts, as their secondary shorts are white (and Adidas Trefoil branded).

Adidas CEO, Björn Gulden “celebrated” the start of the World Cup by wearing a “half and half” shirt of the two teams in the opening fixture. This is very much considered to be a one off to kick the World Cup off!

The much anticipated return of the Adidas Trefoil to the International Stage is happening in this tournament and the first team to wear their change kit containing the logo was Scotland, in their victory against Haiti in Foxborough, MA. They wore the Kit with alternative “salmon” socks.

Ecuador wore a mash up of the change and 3rd Kits, wearing their Change shirt (navy) with their 3rd shorts and socks (white).

Norway wore their Primary Kit with alternative red shorts and socks, this is the 3rd different colour shorts worn with the kit in it’s short life (white as default look and Navy have been worn).

Argentina ended the 2022 World Cup wearing alternative white shorts and socks with their Primary Kit (wearing it in Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and the Final), a look they kicked off this tournament in, which was a surprise as the much leaked kit document had the holders in their default look with Navy Shorts and socks and opponents Algeria in white shorts / socks.

Colombia against Uzbekistan saw both Nations in change kits, with Colombia wearing alternative fluorescent socks with their Change Kit.

That’s it for the first round of fixtures, we will be back next week with the second games in each of the groups. Let me know your thoughts and comments over at my socials.

X – @kit_geek or Bluesky – Kit Geek