AskMen’s Ranking of All 32 Men’s World Cup Jerseys
Next to the actual play on the pitch, one of the best pastimes of any World Cup is analyzing the jerseys our favorite players and countries will be wearing while competing.
Besides Cameroon, every country has released their jersey designs with the usual brands dominating the lineup. While there are some striking designs for this World Cup, other releases left us scratching our heads, and some were just plain awful.
With that in mind, let’s dive into our ranking of what you’ll see on the pitch as the tournament is set to begin in November 2022.
RELATED: Best Gifts for Sports Lovers
30. Costa Rica (New Balance)
New BalanceThis really feels like New Balance simply slapped a logo on a stock shirt. There’s so much more that could have been done with Costa Rica’s jersey.
29. Canada (Nike)
NikeFor Canada’s first World Cup final berth in some time, you would have thought Nike might have done something more. Apparently not.
28. IR Iran (Majid)
MajidThis reported design feels culturally lackluster. Cheetah print should probably be nowhere near a World Cup jersey.
27. Switzerland (PUMA)
PUMAThe crest is sweet. The rest of the jersey? Not so much. PUMA makes its first appearance towards the bottom here for too much simplicity and a really, really poor away setup.
26. Tunisia (Kappa)
KappaTunisia’s jersey is reportedly based on an ancient artifact attributed to Carthanginian general Hannibal. It’s a unique jersey, that’s for sure, showing that there’s a right way and a wrong way to add eclectic imagery to a jersey.
25. Poland (Nike)
NikeAnother situation from Nike where they kept a national team fairly close to its ongoing livery. The accents on the top third are a nice touch, but it still largely underwhelms.
24. Senegal (PUMA)
PUMASadio Mané will compete in Qatar in a jersey that feels lost in a past generation. The colors are still great, but this is definitely a case where the pre-match jacket is better than the jersey.
23. Uruguay (PUMA)
PUMAUruguay faces a very similar fashion problem to Senegal. The button collar looks more 1970s than 2022, but it just edges out the African nation with a sense of classy heritage.
22. Germany (Adidas)
AdidasDoes something about this round of German jerseys feel … predictable? The duo are certainly a sign of Adidas’ shifting design thinking, but it just doesn’t wow in the way you’d expect it to for the four-time World Cup champs.
21. Ecuador (Marathon)
MarathonMarathon made a bit of a statement with their only entrant into the tournament with an updated country crest and integrated styling into basic colorways. They don’t score higher as some might see the overall design as too cautious.
20. Morocco (PUMA)
PUMAAnother case of standard color and badging, but in this case it suffices.
19. Serbia (PUMA)
PUMAThere’s something about the gold/red combo that’s classy, yet refined. It doesn’t score higher because it is rather plain beyond those specific accents (even with some design built into the jersey itself), but the accents are tasteful.
18. Qatar (Nike)
NikeSomething about this jersey makes it a great middle-of-the-pack choice. It could be the shaded design, or maybe the flag-reminiscent triangles on the sleeves. Either way, it’s sensible and safe (in a good way).
17. Brazil (Nike) & Argentina (Adidas) (tie)
Nike / AdidasRadically changing the home jerseys of either South American legend would be considered criminal in either nation, so we’re focusing on the away jerseys. Both are unique in their own right and will make an impact in Qatar, but maybe with a bit less oomph than planned.
16. Denmark (Hummel)
HummelWherever you land on the political statement made by these jerseys, it’s largely agreed that the simplistic, monochromatic design ended up looking rather decent.
15. USA (Nike)
NikeWhat really dampened spirits upon the release of this simple jersey was the loss of potential to really make a statement at the tournament. There’s plenty of historical subtext built into the home white jersey (such as the center crest), but it’s not something a still-growing American fan base will get. Both jerseys get better over time, but still seems like so much design power was left on the table.
14. Wales (Adidas)
AdidasWhat gets it for us is the sweet multi-color collar on the away kit. Some might see this set of kits as too straightforward, but we think it’s a tasteful way to welcome back the Welsh, who have not been at the World Cup Finals since 1958.
13. Ghana (PUMA)
PUMAComing from the “less is more” category, this is probably PUMA’s best offering at the tournament. The home jersey is clean (how great are the tri-color sleeve bands?) and the bright design is definitely the best version of the bland away template we’ll see in Qatar.
12. Saudi Arabia (Nike)
NikeThere’s something fresh about this jersey while feeling relevant for a nation coming from the Middle East. The palm fronds on the home jersey are an especially nice touch.
11. Croatia (Nike)
NikeThe Croats’ checkered pattern is iconic, and the latest take on the shirt feels updated, yet not too updated. It’ll be very interesting to see how ModriÄ and his national teammates will fare heading down the pitch in the blurred away look.
10. Netherlands (Nike)
NikeThe holographic Dutch crest is a big hit for us, along with the updated orange style for the Oranje. The details here will make these jerseys stand out on the pitch.
9. Spain (Adidas)
AdidasSpain’s home jerseys lands largely as expected, but the wavy away version is something else. It feels effortless, yet focused, and could certainly mark a return to the high standards the Spanish set back in 2010 when they won the tournament.
8. Mexico (Adidas)
AdidasThe home jersey is fresh and expectedly safe for El Tri, but the away jersey is the perfect example of how to be tasteful with cultural recognition of a particular country’s culture. Mixtec and Aztec art is well-represented with a design that feels updated and will surely pop on the pitch.
7. Belgium (Adidas)
AdidasAll Guy Fieri jokes aside, Belgium’s home jersey is certainly a conversation starter. The digitized flames mark a new direction for jersey design, and it largely works. The real winner of the duo is the away jersey, though. A beautiful, bright design inspired by a prior capsule collection that’s sure to become a collectible in the years to come.
6. Portugal (Nike)
NikeThis is a prime example of the right way to do color-blocking. It’s clear these are Portugal colors, but the mix of angles and layout is striking. For the classic jersey connoisseurs, this is a winner.
5. France (Nike)
NikeFrance’s navy home jersey is clean, classic and fashionable. It’s about as close as you could get to a “traditional” jersey without feeling stale. The runaway winner is definitely the away jersey with the various French landmarks. This could have been gaudy, but it feels like art.
4. Korea Republic (Nike)
NikeKorea’s red home jersey may not be for everyone, but the away jersey is a design triumph. According to Nike, “The away jersey highlights Taegeuk, the symbol found on the Korean flag that represents national pride and balance between heaven (blue) and earth (red).” It’s a stunning display that feels relevant for the moment.
3. Australia (Nike)
NikeAustralia’s home jersey might be the dark horse of the jersey in this tournament. There’s something so balanced about the green and yellow with the perfect sleeve band accents. The pop of the national crest on the away jersey is an added bonus.
2. Japan (Adidas)
AdidasThe cranes on the sleeves of Japan’s away jersey are simply elegant. Hints of that design make it onto the home jersey, which creates the most congruent and connected pair of the tournament.
1. England (Nike)
NikeShould England propel themselves far in Qatar, they might be as much remembered for their jerseys as much as their play. The hints of teal and blue are perfect additions as England arrives at the tournament loaded with talent and potential. The away jersey’s collar is such a nice touch, but the staying power of the duo as something to be worn well past 2022 earns it top honors on our list.
You Might Also Dig:
