The World Cup kicks off tomorrow in Russia. But the game itself isn’t the only exciting thing about the event: The fashion on the field is worth watching, too. Take Nigeria’s soccer jersey—or rather, kit—which has made headlines over the past few weeks. The cheerful Nike-designed piece has sold a record-breaking 3 million units already, but it’s not the only country that boasts a stellar uniform. Other homegrown standouts include a classic number from Argentina, a pared-back incarnation from Peru, and a print-tastic one from Croatia. Here, see our favorite jerseys to wear post-World Cup.
Country: Argentina Why We Like It: The baby blue and white stripe combination adds a tender flair to the gritty, dirt-splattered sport of soccer. Call it a classic!
Photo: Courtesy of worldsoccershop.com
Country: Australia Why We Like It: The jersey has a sweet history. Former Australian soccer player Mark Viduka asked fans to turn its stadium into a “sea of gold” 13 years ago. And now, the color has become the hue of the team’s jersey. The best part? The sleeves boast snarly stripes, almost like a tattoo. Also, the team’s name is the Socceroos. You can’t beat that.
Photo: Courtesy of worldsoccershop.com
Country: Colombia Why We Like It: While many countries participating in the World Cup are flying red colors, Colombia’s canary yellow jersey is easy to spot. It also has a jolt of sass thanks to the jagged blue and burgundy print around the arms. It’s sponsored by Adidas, so fans will enjoy the three stripes on the shoulders, too.
Photo: Courtesy of worldsoccershop.com
Country: Croatia Why We Like It: Croatia is proud to be Croatia, and that’s great stylistically, too. The Central European country put its red and white checkerboard coat of arms print right on its jersey. It makes for a flashy, can’t-miss-it moment on the field. Comes with the Nike swoosh symbol, too!
Photo: Courtesy of worldsoccershop.com
Country: Nigeria Why We Like It: Nigeria has become a clear winner with its viral soccer jersey. It’s easy to see why: the snazzy green print inspired by the team’s name, the Super Eagles. (Get it? Those designs are the wings of eagles!) It also helps that the teammates are well dressed off-duty, too.
Photo: Courtesy of nike.com
Country: Peru Why We Like It: Here is a jersey for fútbol lovers with more minimalist tastes. The South American country boasts a simple white jersey with a thick red stripe that cuts diagonally across the chest.
Photo: Courtesy of worldsoccershop.com
Country: Russia Why We Like It: The country that is hosting the World Cup has a pretty great jersey, too. It’s in Soviet-shade red with two easy stripes on the sleeves. There are other renditions of the jersey, too: Russian designers Gosha Rubchinskiy and Sever have both created their own takes on the look.
Photo: Courtesy of worldsoccershop.com
Country: Cameroon Why We Like It: We’re here for Cameroon’s creative-liberty spin on the standard soccer kit. The grass green jersey designed by Puma boasts a geometric lion face, an ode to the team name, the Indomitable Lions. The flag’s yellow, red, and green colors act as the collar, a spiffy pop of contrast that truly allows this piece to shine.
Photo: Courtesy of soccer.com
Country: Japan Why We Like It: Japanese culture is known for process and tradition when it comes to design, and that shows in the country’s soccer jersey, too. The white pattern is made to resemble sashiko stitching, a functional yet decorative technique for reinforcing fabric that was used in Japan from the early 1600s to the late 1800s.
