U.S. Soccer players helped design their own 2026 World Cup jerseys

"The home "stripes kit" features classic rippling red and white waves; the away "stars kit" highlights subtle shining stars on a dark navy backdrop. The designs will be worn across all 27 U.S. Soccer national teams (including men's and women's, youth, and senior teams) in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup, which will conclude with a final match on home soil at New York's MetLife Stadium."

"After athletes and fans reacted negatively to the team's jerseys in 2022, USMNT players were much more involved in the latest design process. Their aesthetic sensibilities shine through with uniforms that balance an homage to World Cup history with a modern, undeniably cool edge."

"In an interview with The Athletic this March, midfielder Tyler Adams explained that the delay stemmed from the fact that the team "didn't feel that [the kits] represented us." The shake-up nudged Nike and U.S. Soccer to rethink the design process from beginning to end."

Nike and U.S. Soccer revealed official team jerseys for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, featuring two distinct designs inspired by the American flag. The home kit displays rippling red and white waves, while the away kit showcases subtle shining stars on navy. These designs will be worn across all 27 U.S. Soccer national teams leading to the 2026 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium. The design process began in fall 2023, following player dissatisfaction with 2022 kits. Nike has partnered with U.S. Soccer since 1995, and players were significantly more involved in this latest design process, balancing World Cup history homage with modern aesthetics.

Read at Fast Company