The wait for the 2022 FIFA World Cup is increasingly coming to an end and the majority of the competing nations have already released their home and away kits for the showpiece. Here's a look at five of the best kits at the tournament, including England and Argentina.
The story
The beauty of kits goes beyond just the design as they can have a lasting impact on a nation. For example, kits can be a reminder of the team's performance at the tournament.
Who could possibly forget Bafana Bafana's iconic 2010 World Cup home kit, in which Siphiwe 'Shabba' Tshababala scored the sensational opening goal of the tournament in Soccer City, Johannesburg? That strip is now stamped onto the memory of many South Africans who watched the historic occasion.
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To even prove the importance of World Cup kits, some jersey collectors even auction iconic tops for large fees, with people showing an interest in having iconic memorabilia. Now, for these five World Cup hopefuls: Argentina, England, Mexico, South Korea, and Belgium will be hoping to make history in their new uniforms - as we believe they boast five of the best gears for the tournament.
The Three Stripes Gang
Admittedly, adidas have done an exceptional job in terms of kits this year. At club level, the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United have had some of the best-looking kits in years and that seems to have carried over to the national teams.
Argentina, Belgium, and Mexico are the pick of the bunch. Lionel Messi's side will wear their iconic sky blue and white strip, which now has some lovely touches of black. It is believed that the jersey is inspired by the South American outfit's national flag, while it also features the Sol de Mayo national emblem on the back of the collar.
This year will be Messi's last appearance at the competition and we imagine that this current kit will live long in the memory partly due to the legend's farewell.
Mexico's away jersey is said to be fan-focused and inspired by ancient civilizations. According to the German outfitter, adidas infused this Mexico away jersey with Mixtec art and Aztec deities to summon the fighting spirit required to rule the soccer world. The dazzling allover design displays Quetzalcoatl's serpent body — a representation of humankind's physical capabilities
Nike Swoosh
While England's home kit for the Qatar is insanely average, they did make up for that with their red away shirt. The jersey features navy and light blue for logos and design elements, giving it a wonderfully zen feel to it.
This may also be the reason we like South Korea's home jersey as well, as it has some notable similarities. According to Nike, the strip is based on the motif of Dokkaebi, a moniker representing the fierce mentality of a proud nation. Its tiger-stripe sleeve graphic represents the strength and power that Son Heung-min and company have.
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Your thoughts, please?
Which participating country has your favourite jersey?
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