Nike’s World Cup kits – United States, Netherlands miss the mark, but Brazil and Portugal good

As the opening match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Qatar’s Al Bayt Stadium on November 20 draws nearer, the 32 teams are finalizing the kits they will wear on the pitch.

We’ve already seen a few incarnations of Adidas and Puma, with the latter causing a bit of a storm with its insistence on sticking to one overarching concept for all of its alternative kits.

But can Nike do better? The giant sportswear brand has announced home and away kits for a variety of teams including big hitters like France, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands and USA

After perusing the designs on display, there are undoubtedly some instant hits among the crowd. However, it should perhaps also be said that not all nations involved were so lucky when it came to fashion.

Here we run through the plethora of new kits released this week, along with a brief breakdown of each design and a factual “hit” or “miss” rating.

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United States

home: A white jersey, but some of the most memorable jerseys of the past have been plain white jerseys. That loses points for the central crest, which makes the whole thing just OK. But nothing more.

Rating: Miss

one way: Tie dye and stonewashing. That’s what got everyone so upset. It’s terrible.

Rating: Miss

France

home: Sleek and minimal, but far too simple to elicit a particularly emotional response. The combination of navy blue and gold trim gives off a faint royal vibe, but the reigning world champion certainly deserves more.

Rating: Miss

one way: All the features of a regular French away kit are there thanks to a white kit with blue trim and just a touch of tricolor scattered here and there. Upon closer inspection, the jersey also sports an all-over print inspired by traditional “Toile de Jouy“Fabric featuring selected images including the Gallic Rooster symbol, the Arc de Triomphe and the National Training Center at Clairefontaine.

Rating: HIT

Portugal

home: The diagonal slit on the front of the shirt is designed to mimic a Portuguese flag being wrapped around the player’s body.

Rating: HIT

one way: Sail white on the away shirts ensures the Portugal kit stands out in a sea of ​​bright white shirts.

Rating: HIT

Brazil

home: While every inch is the traditional Brazil jersey, the latest incarnation of the famous yellow jersey is adorned with an unusual print pattern inspired by the fur of the jaguar – the country’s unofficial national animal. Classic and modern in one fell swoop.

Rating: HIT

one way: The Jaguar theme continues on the away kit, albeit with less convincing results as the garish neon green sleeve graphic clashes uncomfortably with the blue base color. Sure to share opinions, but we feel it just missed the mark.

Rating: Miss

Netherlands

home: The special shade of Oranje used for the Netherlands’ latest World Cup kit has been dialed down a bit to create a polished, almost amber colour, although the tie-dye tiger stripe print is only there to give the kit a permanently crumpled look.

Rating: Miss

one way: A dull blue, black and red template kit that encapsulates precisely none of the nation’s rich World Cup heritage. The kind of football shirt that instantly fades from memory.

Rating: Miss

Croatia

home: The 2018 World Cup finalists have seen their red and white checks with another modern update as the famous block print has broken up in places. Nothing revolutionary is happening here, but Croatia still looks like Croatia and that’s definitely a good thing.

Rating: HIT

one way: The away kit features a blue and teal check design, obscured here and there by blurred lines and swirling graphic glitches. Despite being admirably different, the result is a jersey that somehow looks half-finished.

Rating: Miss

Australia

home: While the Australia home shirt is fairly plain at first glance, it is meant to evoke the country’s unique landscape and ecosystem with the mottled, jagged gold pattern meant to pay homage to the rugged terrain of the outback.

Rating: HIT

one way: Also inspired by nature, with the deep blue away kit created to represent the oceans that surround Australia. The wave pattern creates a sophisticated tidal effect, while the navy colored trims hint at the biodiversity beneath the waves.

Rating: HIT

Qatar

home: Desert Maroon was used with white jagged border to reflect the Qatari flag, but this is not the standout performance the World Cup hosts could have achieved.

Rating: Miss

one way: This kit showcases the coast of Qatar while “a subtle graphic overlay of pearl necklaces references the history of pearl diving in the coastal atolls”. A bit of history and meant to mimic a sandstorm. Cool.

Rating: HIT

Saudi Arabia

home: Predominantly white with green accents and a palm leaf pattern first seen on the 2020 away shirt. Not too original.

Rating: Miss

one way: A tonal green pattern covering the entire front, sleeves and back. Unusual and pretty decent.

Rating: HIT

Poland

home: Poland never seem to be spoiled with interesting kits and their 2022 vintage is no different, with the home kit being limited to a very clean design in the national colors of red and white. The retro crew neck and sleeve cuffs are insulated pretty nice.

Rating: Miss

one way: The away shirt shows a little more fantasy thanks to a crackled print design that extends down the shoulders and sleeves. Apart from that, it’s basically just a straight-forward color reversal of the home kit.

Rating: Miss

Canada

Canada’s current kits debuted in a June 2021 World Cup qualifier against Aruba, and they won’t get a new one for the World Cup because they’re “in a different kit development cycle.”

home: A plain red football shirt with the Canadian Maple Leaf crest on the chest.

Rating: Miss

one way: A plain white football shirt with the Canadian Maple Leaf crest on the chest

Rating: Miss

South Korea (home)

home: The South Korea home shirt is based on the ancient mythical folk tales of dokkaebi, mischievous goblins who both help and hinder their human counterparts. To top it off, the fiery purple color palette represents the nation’s fighting spirit.

Rating: HIT