Summer Style

With international football returning over the next week, Sam On Sport continues looking forward to the World Cup this summer with a look at some of the tournament’s most memorable kits.

Summer Style

Scotland’s World Cup away kit was released this week and what a beauty it is. The Adidas trefoil logo is back in force this summer with lots of wonderful away kits being released both for teams in the World Cup and those who haven’t made it. Retro style has always been big but the boom in classic football shirts has exploded over the last few years with Classic Football Shirts reporting 30% year-on-year growth and a turnover of £31.8 million in 2024.

There are some beautiful new designs out there as well as Scotland’s salmon pink away top, including Germany’s geometric throwback and Mexico’s Aztec inspired design. When the cameras move into the stands at this summer’s tournament though we are bound to see hundreds of vintage kits being proudly worn alongside the new ones.

Regular readers if this column will know that I love a list. In the spirit of that and to build the mood for the summer spectacular with international football returning next week, I am going to run over my eleven favourite World Cup kits of all time. They will not be ordered though, just there in all their glory for you to salivate over.

Nigeria 1994

Nigeria followed in the footsteps of Cameroon at the 1994 World Cup, putting on some scintillating performances and playing their way into the hearts of millions worldwide. They burst onto the scene with their 3-0 opening win over Bulgaria, made memorable for Rashidi Yekini’s emotional goal net celebration after scoring his nation’s first World Cup goal. They then took eventual finalists Italy right until the death in the Last 16.

Both of their kits were great but their white away strip really stood out. Its offset vertical stripes with staggered tribal design was different to anything else in the tournament. The subtle green triangles on the cuffs and collar were a nice accompaniment and the contrasting green shorts really stood out against the white. It was a smart look for a stunning debut.

Colombia 1990

Thoughts immediately flood back to Carlos Valderrama’s huge afro of blond ringlets, thick moustache and wrists adorned with bracelets gliding around the midfield looking for spaces and teammates to pass to. Colombia’s traditional yellow shirt was punctuated by bold red and blue slashes on the shoulders while the neat red trim around the collar and arms perfectly complemented the traditional three stripes down the arms.

Colombia’s journey might have ended in the Last 16, undone by Roger Milla and Cameroon but their shirt has carried on their legacy as it is one of the most sought after retro numbers. The red away version was a thing of beauty as well.

France 1982

France’s ‘Carre Magique’ (Magic Square) midfield of Michel Platini, Jean Tigana, Alain Giresse and Luis Fernandez were still two years away from leading their country to the Euro ‘84 title but they were resplendent in Spain with their blue shirt adorned with smart pinstripes. The white collar and cuffs set off against the blue nicely and the stripes in the colour of the flag was a lovely touch. The oversized badge across from the trefoil completed the classic look.

France may be more widely remembered for their 1984 design which was replicated in the 1998 World Cup win but this 1982 effort was, for me, a classier design and a touch of French style that accompanied their run to the semis-finals. If it hadn’t been for German villain Harald Schumacher, who knows what could have happened!

Argentina 1986

It is something of a shame that when Diego Maradona made the headlines for all the right and wrong reasons simultaneously in Argentina’s quarter-final defeat of England, he was wearing their dark blue away kit rather than this beauty of a home design. He did try and make just as magical a moment in the semi-final against Belgium but the context just wasn’t as strong.

The home design was a thing of classic beauty. The vertical stripes of sky blue and white perfectly bisected both the crest on the front and the Le Coq Sportif logo while the simple round collar with a trim of white finished off the look. Nothing overly flashy on the design was needed, that was left to Maradona with the ball glued to his feet.

Netherlands 1974

In their first World Cup appearance in 26 years, the Netherlands set the world alight with their exciting brand of ‘Total Football’ that took them all the way to the final. Cruyff’s turn against Sweden, the decimation of Argentina and the fastest ever goal on World Cup final all serve as wonderful memories and, for each, the Dutch we’re wearing their vibrant orange home kit.

The deep v of the neck was different from others and the oversized black lion of their badge proudly stood out against the orange. The traditional three stripes down the arm were given a memorable twist by Johan Cruyff who removed one due to his personal sponsorship deal with Puma. A classic strip for a classic performance.

Jamaica 1998

The Reggae Boyz brought a loud and colourful vibe to the World Cup of 1998 and their kits were no different. Banana yellow with an intricate curved design of green and black really helped them to stand out. The thick black collar emblazoned with the white Kappa logo was a nice additional touch.

Although they would go out after the group stages, they left with a victory after beating Japan in their final game and will be remembered for the vibrance they brought to their only appearance.

Japan 2022

Japan have had a series of beautiful World Cup kits from the fire-like pattern on the sleeves of their debut in 1998 to the simplistic beauty of their 2002 strip when they were hosts. However, their shirt from the last World Cup stands out as an instant classic. A slightly paler blue plastered with a bold white geometric pattern gave the impression of samurai slashes over the front. The red piping at the edges stood out against this wonderfully as did the black of the mythical Yatagarasu crow on their badge.

Their performance at the tournament backed up the beauty of their attire as wins over Spain and Germany helped them through the group stage. An exit on penalties to Croatia was disappointing but they put on a memorable show and looked great whilst doing it.

Brazil 1970

An ultimate classic of a World Cup strip, Pele, Jairzinho et al are one of the most memorable teams of all time. Following the 1950 final defeat against Uruguay in which they wore white, Brazil held a competition to identify new colours for their national kit to wash away the bad luck. The final design chosen was displayed beautifully in the sunshine of Mexico with the yellow shirts with green trim, light blue shorts and white socks truly stood out.

Their run to the final included a win over reigning champions England but it was the 4-1 defeat of Italy in the last game itself, capped off with Carlos Alberto’s incredible overlapping final goal, which will always remain in the hearts and minds of supporters.

Italy 1994

Italy’s run to the final in 1994 was punctuated by the up and down story of ‘Il Divin Codino’ (The Divine Ponytail), Roberto Baggio. Removed from the pitch after goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca was sent off in the group stages, Baggio returned as the hero of the knockout stages, scoring key goals in the Last 16, quarters and semis. He then went on to miss the decisive penalty in the final defeat by Brazil in a moment that would cement his place in history, although not exactly as he would have wanted.

In typical Italian fashion though, the whole thing played out with his side looking incredibly stylish.

What looked at first glance as a simple blue design was highlighted by shapes in the colour of the Italian flag around the collar and cuffs and the repeated pattern of the crest in a slightly deeper blue all over the shirt. Truly magnificent.

Denmark 1986

Hummel have produced some incredible kits for Denmark over the years but their effort in 1986 provided a cool factor that would stand the test of time. The half and half split with red and white pinstripes on one side and plain red with the white badge set against it on the other really helped them to stand out. The chevrons down the arms gave another geometric element and the back and white of the collar popped against the rest.

The likes of Michael Laudrup and Preben Ekjaer shone on their debut on the world’s biggest football stage, most memorably in the 6-1 thrashing of Uruguay in the group stage. After winning all three group games it looked like they might be a dark horse for the tournament but somehow capitulated in a 5-1 defeat to Spain in the Last 16.

USA 1994

When the USA were awarded the 1994 tournament there were questions raised as they had never previously qualified for the tournament before at that point (they did make it to 1990 after the hosting rights were granted). However, they were determined to out on a show and did so in reaching the Last 16 stage and taking Brazil close.

The majority of their games were played wearing what was originally meant to be their away kit but actually became one of the most iconic World Cup shirts of all time. A mottled blue background was the perfect vessel for the slanted white stars to stand out and the red trim completed the ensemble perfectly. With his wild red hair and goatee beard, Alexei Lalas was a hugely memorable presence in the kit and became an instant icon of the world game.

Some of the kits at this year’s tournament will surely become classics of the future too but for now we can remember and reminisce and bask in the glory of moments that have passed.