Soccer is considered the most popular sport in the world, with an estimated 4 billion fans globally. That’s why it's not a surprise that international soccer matches draw multitudinous spectators worldwide. But what do some of the top teams’ eye-catching international soccer jersey designs mean?
It’s no secret that designers and manufacturers spend lots of time and resources crafting each team’s uniform. These manufacturers vary from well-known brands to lesser known ones.
We decided to do the research and learn the meaning behind seven of this year’s international soccer jersey designs and look at their evolution over time.
Brazil
Brazil rocks a bolder shade of yellow this year, a continuation of the color that replaced white after the infamous 1950 Maracanaço defeat. The simplicity of the concept draws on the Seleção's (The Squad, as the team is called) flag colors and incorporates details such as the subtle texture on the sleeves with the white & blue federation badge.
Over time, Brazil’s iconic jerseys have become a symbol of excellence in the game, tugging at fans’ emotional heartstrings by reminding them of soccer legends like Ronaldinho, Pelé and of course, Neymar Jr.
The yellow Brazil jersey we've become accustomed to was thought up in a 1953 national competition when Brazilians were encouraged to come up with a new design for the team.
Mexico
The unique green jersey worn by Mexico’s team, also known as ‘El Tri’, has been a constant since 1958 and it is here again paying tribute to the Mexican flag.
For this year’s international soccer matches, Adidas included three iconic white stripes on the shoulders with a complementing white band around the jersey's V-neck collar and brighter green bands at the ribs.
El Tri’s uniforms have stayed true to the team's flag colors, a tradition followed by many other countries. One of Mexico’s adjustments has been to alternate the collar between V-necks and round ones.
Spain
Spain’s 2018 international soccer uniform is an apparent throwback to the ones worn at the USA 1994 games. The dynamic yellow, blue, and red diamonds run down the right side with the Adidas' logo on the center completing the look.
Adidas commented that the diamond graphics represent the speed, style and energy that La Furia Roja, as the team is known, exhibits. Over its history, the decorations on Spanish international soccer jerseys have evolved to include Adidas’ 3-stripe branding.
Spain’s jerseys always rock the red, alluding to the Spanish flag. The country’s coat of arms has been a constant on the team's soccer kits, instantly recognized as a symbol of the country.
Portugal
Portugal first qualified to participate in a major international soccer tournament in 1966 and from that moment, their basic color scheme has essentially remained the same.
The team will sport an extremely similar jersey to the one they wore to their 2016 European victory. The Navigators' (as they are known because of the Nation's seafaring history) kits reflect the previous victory with a bit of gold.
Argentina
Team Argentina and Lionel Messi are mutually identified as a unit. One is almost synonymous with the other, and both are as iconic as the jerseys they don. The familiar sky-blue stripes running down the white jersey pays homage to the national flag itself and continues to shine in the 2018 spotlight.
The Argentinean team celebrates the 125th anniversary of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) this year. Adidas mentions that this is why La Albiceleste's, as the team is known, jersey has laurels surrounding the AFA crest along with two stars to highlights its major international victories.
Adidas' traditional 3 stripes on the shoulders are no surprise, nor is the use of white as the base color. Some believe that the 2018 design was inspired by their 1993 uniform, the year when they won the Copa América (and did so without Diego Maradona).
Germany
Winners of four tournaments (1954, 1974, 1990, and 2014), Die Mannschaft (The Team, as it is known) pays tribute to their 1990 winning jersey by reinterpreting the geometric shape on the chest and bringing back the traditional green we haven't seen since 2012.
This year’s overlap collar also dates back to 1990. Some think that Adidas might be hoping to attract good luck finding inspiration in designs from past winning seasons.
The overall design and geometric elements on the German uniforms link it to Mexico’s. Both are based on Adidas’ baseline concept including the three stripes on the shoulders.
France
The international soccer kits that the French team, known as Les Bleus, wears this year convey a sense of national pride based on the three-colored flag. Their away and home uniforms (worn during the pre-match meets) are composed of blue, white and red.
From a distance the jerseys worn by the French in Russia look white. Get up close though and it's evident that areas have blue and red threads knitted throughout the fabric. Add a tricolor strip on the back and the words “Nos Differences Nous Unissent” (Our Differences Unite Us) printed inside the collar.
Watch Le Bleus when they gather to sing "Le Marseillaise", the French national anthem. They will appear attired in equal numbers of red, white and blue jackets.
While all international soccer jerseys have their own story, there’s one thing that brings them all together, enduring passion for the game of soccer. One’s national soccer jersey provides a sense of identity and patriotism. On and off the pitch, we’d do well to embrace the motto inside the French jerseys: “Our Differences Unite Us.”
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