By: Zachary Kershaw
Occurring only once-a-quadrennial, the FIFA World Cup is set to kick off for the 22nd time in history. Players will represent their home countries and compete against other countries on the soccer field for the title of World Champion. The event is the grandest stage there is for competitive soccer. Hosted in the country of Qatar this year, eight different stadiums will play host over the course of the 64 games.
Notably, the format of the event is scheduled to change in the future. Currently, 32 teams compete in the global tournament but for the next World Cup that is going to expand to 48 teams. The countries who have qualified for the 2022 World Cup are:
Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales
Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
Group D: France, Australia, Denmark, Tunisia
Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan
Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea
Team USA qualifying this time around is great news because, four years ago they did not qualify for the World Cup. Led by players such as Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams and Weston Mckennie this team is certainly young but has the potential to make some noise in a talent-loaded contest.
According to Statista.com, “The youngest team on average is currently the United States at 24.5 years of age.”
This will be important to keep in mind when the team makes their way to Qatar in the coming months.
A loss to Trinidad & Tobago in 2018 sidelined Team USA from competing in the previous World Cup, leaving many questions related to the direction of the program. Around this time, the higher-ups involved with Team USA decided it was time for a change in coaching. So they fired the previous coach and hired a new one. And four years later, Gregg Berhalter is still the active Head Coach for Team USA as the team prepares for the World Cup. Indicating that the move was a proper one.
That being said, Berhalter is still venturing into uncharted territory as a coach. This will be his first appearance in the World Cup where he is dressed in suit and tie versus uniform. Berhalter was on Team USA’s 2002 World Cup roster and had an active playing career. At one point in his career, Berhalter was rostered on Crystal Palace in the English Premier League while scoring goals for Team USA.
Once the matches kick-off in Qatar this November, Team USA will have the world’s eyes on them once again. An early test for them will be taking the pitch against a talented England squad and Harry Kane during the Group stage.
Here is the Group stage schedule for Team USA:
11/21 vs. Wales 2:00pm EST
11/25 vs. England 2:00pm EST
11/29 vs. Iran 2:00pm EST
Points accrued during the Group stage are what determine placement into the Round of 16. Each group’s top two finishers advance while the others will be eliminated from the tournament.
Aside from the players, one of the most noteworthy aspects of the World Cup are the kits each country dons. Each kit is unique to its country in design and appearance. Major corporations such as Nike, Adidas, and Puma are affiliated with the kits but there are a few exceptions:
Tunisia – Kappa
Denmark – Hummel
Iran – Majid
Ecuador – Marathon
Costa Rica – New Balance
Cameroon – OneAllSports
Here are my rankings for The 2022 FIFA World Cup Official Kits:
32. Denmark
These kits have been intentionally simplified to serve as a form of protest for the event being held in Qatar. Although they bear resemblance to previously worn Danish kits, these kits are noticeably more simplistic and lacking features.
(Image credit: Hummel)
31. Canada
Canada has been wearing these kits for the last year. These kits are sponsored by Nike and remain true to the colors on Canada’s flag. The home kit (top) has a red base but no other patterns. The away kit (bottom) has a white base. Both kits display the emblem and sponsor of their club.
(Image credit: Nike)
30. Tunisia
The home kit (right) is mostly red and across it is a graphic related to a piece of Tunisian history from 1909. The away kit (left) is white and features the same design. The club emblems and sponsor are visible on the chest.
(Image credit: fourfourtwo.com)
29. Poland
On the home kit (right), an intricate pattern on the shoulders is eye-catching. Both kits clearly establish Poland’s identity through selected colorways.
(Image credit: Nike)
28. Serbia
Designed by Puma, these kits are the first-generation of Serbian kits to represent the Football Association of Serbia on them. On the home kit (right), the central crest design pays homage past and present generations of players.
(Image credit: Puma)
27. Qatar
The home kit (bottom) has a red base and features a rounded collar. On the end of the sleeves, the triangular trim provides a nice look for the hosts. The sponsor and club emblem are on the center as well. On the away kit (top) the emblem and sponsor are aligned accordingly on the chest. The away kit also features interesting patterns on the body.
(Image credit: Nike)
26. Morocco
The away kit (right) offers a white base with a grey vertical stripe down the center. The sponsor and team emblem are seen right above the number in the center of the kit. The home kit (left) also has the sponsor in the center but the team emblem on the left chest. Both kits feature rounded collars.
(Image credit: Puma)
25. Ghana
The away kit (left) has a red base. The box in the center has the player number and team emblem in it. In the box, the colors of the flag are visible. The home kit (right) has a white base and the team emblem and logo can be found on the chest.
(Image credit: Puma)
24. Iran
The color gradient across the chest is a nice design along with the primary colors of the Iranian flag mixed in. The kits are same but inverted for home and away matches. The club emblem and sponsor are visible on the chest. An interesting graphic pattern runs along the mid-section of both kits.
(Image credit: Majid)
23. Germany
The home kit (left) has a white base with a thick vertical stripe down the center. The club emblem and sponsor are placed in the center directly above the player number. On the right, the away kits offer a darker red base with graphic patterns. The logo and sponsor are aligned on the chest.
(Image credit: Adidas)
22. Wales
Both kits have a red base and three stripe design on the shoulder. The team emblem and sponsor are placed on the chest for both kits. On the sides, green accents tie together the traditional colors of Wales.
“The lightning bolt pattern really grabbed my eyes. And I think the patterns on their sides and matches their flag really well.” said Emily Pasceri, a Junior at UT.
(Image credit: Adidas)
21. Switzerland
The away kit (right) has a white base and a box design in the center. The home kit (left) offers a red base with shoulders designed with horizontal white lines stackings. Both kits have v-neck collars. These are Switzerland’s traditional colors.
(Image credit: Puma)
20. Costa Rica
Both of these kits are v-necks with solid colors on the bodies with blue trim on the sleeves. The club crest is visible across the chest on both kits along with the sponsor.
(Image credit: Marathon)
19. Ecuador
The home kit (middle) is mostly yellow and features diagonal patterns across the mid-section. The away kit (left) bears a design correlated to the ancient Incan civilization. The alternative kit (right) is mainly white and carries designs similar to the home kit.
(Image credit: Marathon)
18. Belgium
Adidas stuck to Belgium’s traditional red and black coloration (left). On the sleeves are flame designs that meet the signature triple line of Adidas on the shoulders. The away kit (right) feature a multicolor trim on the sleeves along with a multicolor team emblem and sponsor.
(Image credit: Adidas)
17. USA
The home kit for USA has a white base and features the team emblem in the center. Uniquely, the sponsor is placed on the sleeves, not the front. The same applies to the away kits which are navy in base with a tie dye pattern on the front. The sponsor is also on the sleeves for the away kit.
“I expected more from us…I have seen cooler NBA jerseys.” said Pasceri.
(Image credit: Nike)
16. France
The home kit (top) has a navy-blue base with a metallic gold for the emblem and sponsor. The away kit (bottom) has a white base but is scattered with images rich in French history. The colorways are aligned with the change France made in 2012 when changing primary colors.
(Image credit: Nike)
15. Netherlands
Described as laser-orange, the home kit (left) is bright and eye-catching. The away kit (right) is a newer look for Netherlands. Gonig with a dark-blue color across the body and orange trim near the sleeves.
“I really like Netherland’s stuff. The orange actually looks good on both of them.” said Harris.
(Image credit: Nike)
14. Senegal
The home kit (right) was inspired by a former Senegal national team. The colors across the chest and on the collar reflect Senegal’s traditional colors. The away kit (left) uses two shades of green and features a vertical stripe down the center. Also, a box design for the numbers and a bright-red collar.
(Image credit: Puma)
13. Uruguay
The away kit (right) features a box design to support the logo and player number. Five light-blue vertical stripes run parallel across the front. The clubs emblem is visible in the center of the kit. The home kit (left) inverts the coloration of the away kit. The club emblem is neatly placed onto across the chest adjacent to the logo.
(Image credit: Puma)
12. Saudi Arabia
The home kit (left) features palm leave designs on a white base. The rounded collar is green and contrasts nicely. This design was last worn by the country in 2020. The away kit (right) is a darker green and features distinct tonal patterns on the entirety.
“Saudi Arabi’s are definitely under-rated.” said Anthony Lupo, a Junior at UT. “They might win a few games just because of these bad boys.”
(Image credit: Nike)
11. England
The light blue gradient on the home kit (top) shoulders is a slight flash from the past for England fans from the 1996 World Cup. The away kit (bottom) displays a bright-red shirt with a collar featuring blue trim. On both chests, the crest of England’s club is cleary distinguishable.
“England’s colors are nice to. I like the shoulders and the collar.” said Harris.
(Image credit: Nike)
10. Japan
Adidas blended aspects of the Origami form of art with a new design for Japan. The club crest is present on both kits. The home kit (left) borrows some designs from the 2011 AFC Asian Cup Japan team.
(Image credit: Adidas)
9. Australia
Opting for distinct and vibrant colors allows these kits to accurately reflect the land down-under. The club emblem displays animals native to Australia. The away kit (right) is darker in coloration with a light-green collar to provide a clean contrast.
“Oh my god, is that an Ostritch??? – I love it!” said Pasceri.
(Image credit: Nike)
8. Cameroon
The home kit (left) and away kit (right) offer the smae design. But the unique coloration and addition of the flag on the shoulder provide distinct visual appeal. Also, these kits have the club emblem on the right side of the chest, different than many of the others.
(Image credit: OneAllSports)
7. Brazil
Featuring a green collar and yellow base decorated with jaguar patterns on the home kit (left) bear striking resemblance to the kits worn by the 2002 winning Brazil team. The away kit (right) offers a blue base with the jaguar print design on the shoulders. The club emblem is displayed on the left chest of both kits adjacent from the sponsors.
“I don’t like Brazil’s. The cheetah print on the shoulder does it no favors.” said Ella Harris, a Junior at UT.
(Image credit: Nike)
6. South Korea
The home kit (right) is entireluy red with tiger stripes along the shoulder. They are designed to represent strength. On the left, the away kit has strokes of red and blue which represent heaven and earth respectively.
(Image credit: Nike)
5. Spain
The Spanish flag design on the away kit (right) goes along brilliantly with the light-blue wave pattern design. Placed neatly in the center of the kit is the club emblem and the sponsor. The home kit (left) features three stripes on the shoulder and collar along on a red base.
(Image credit: Adidas)
4. Argentina
The home kit (right) sticks with the modern style Argentina has worn for a few years. The away kit (left) offers a v-neck as opposed to a rounded collar while also adding an intricate flame design combined with two different shades of purple.
(Image credit: Adidas)
3. Mexico
The previous time Mexico wore green in the World Cup was 2018. They will be bringing back their green home kits (right) this year for the World Cup. For the away kits (left) the design is borrowed from what translates to “Feathered serpent”, or Quetzalcoatl. Both kits are designed to represent Mexico’s culture and strength.
(Image credit: Adidas)
2. Portugal
The home kit (bottom) features a diagonal graphic dividing the kit into red and green, Portugal’s traditional colors. The away kit (top) uses an off-white base and carries Portugal’s traditional colors across the chest. Nike elected to use a color slightly different from white so that the kits would stand out more.
(Image credit: Nike)
- Croatia
The away kit (right) uses two contrasting shades of blue but remains true to Croatia’s traditional design with the light-blue checkers. Both kits display the club emblem cleary along with the sponsor. The away kit is designed to resemble the presence of the Adriatic Sea off Croatia’s coast.
“Croatia is my favorite, the pattern and colorways work very well together.” said Lupo.
(Image credit: Nike)