As we approach the end of the group stage, when 12 teams will be cut, let’s take a moment to appreciate the array of jerseys that have graced the field.
Every World Cup, teams unveil a home and an away jersey. The purpose isn’t simply to tell squads apart, but to share a story about each country. To see this tournament’s best jerseys and the intention behind them, check out this roundup from WBUR.
[The cleats, meanwhile, have been mostly hot pink at the request of athletes wanting a bold color, according to The Athletic.]
Now, not every jersey made its debut. Haiti’s original shirt included a powerful image of the final battle of the Haitian War of Independence in 1803. But before the team’s opening match, FIFA rejected the design, deeming it too political, ESPN reported.
This year, the U.S. home jersey pays homage to the American flag’s red and white stripes.
But here’s a fun fact: The first time that the U.S. hosted the World Cup in 1994, team USA wore a faux-denim, star-covered shirt. The verdict?
“ It was kind of universally hated at the time,” says Brian D. Bunk, who teaches the history of sports at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. | 
