2018 World Cup Uniforms
In most team sports, two uniforms adequately differentiate the teams. But soccer includes a wrinkle: because goalkeepers can use their hands in the penalty box, they must be uniquely identifiable at a glance to remain protected from physical challenges when in possession of the ball. So each team’s goalkeeper wears their own unique uniform.
Taking into account all of the factors – jerseys, shorts, socks, home and away versions, referees, and accessibility concerns about visibility on TV screens around the world – you’ve got a real color management situation on your hands. Everyone involved (or watching) must effortlessly keep track of 5 unique uniforms at any given moment.
Nothing makes this clearer than the every-four-years spectacle of the World Cup, when the multitude of nations’ colors and imagery allow us to witness so many combinations in such a compressed timeframe.
How does this work out in the real-world context of international competition? We found no definitive source. There are photographs of all the jerseys, an entertaining conversation about jersey fashion, and even consequences for unapproved uniform variations, but nothing shows the uniforms performing their ultimate purpose.
So we took on the challenge: 32 teams; 64 matches; 128 uniform combinations. Below you will find all the uniforms worn during the 2018 World Cup. Thanks to Linda and Troy for help with the links and to Martin for discussing the finer points of uniform theory and the occasional rule clarification while watching the World Cup this summer.
15 July 2018
France 4–2 Croatia
14 July 2018
Belgium 2–0 England
11 July 2018
Croatia 2–1 England
10 July 2018
France 1–0 Belgium
7 July 2018
Russia 2–2 (3–4) Croatia
7 July 2018
Sweden 0–2 England
6 July 2018
Brazil 1–2 Belgium
6 July 2018
Uruguay 0–2 France
3 July 2018
Colombia 1–1 (3–4) England
3 July 2018
Sweden 1–0 Switzerland
2 July 2018
Belgium 3–2 Japan
2 July 2018
Brazil 2–0 Mexico
1 July 2018
Croatia 1–1 (3–2) Denmark
1 July 2018
Spain 1–1 (3–4) Russia
30 June 2018
Uruguay 2–1 Portugal
30 June 2018
France 4–3 Argentina
28 June 2018
England 0–1 Belgium
28 June 2018
Panama 1–2 Tunisia
28 June 2018
Senegal 0–1 Colombia
28 June 2018
Japan 0–1 Poland
27 June 2018
Switzerland 2–2 Costa Rica
27 June 2018
Serbia 0–2 Brazil
27 June 2018
Mexico 0–3 Sweden
27 June 2018
Korea 2–0 Germany
26 June 2018
Iceland 1–2 Croatia
26 June 2018
Nigeria 1–2 Argentina
26 June 2018
Denmark 0–0 France
26 June 2018
Australia 0–2 Peru
25 June 2018
Iran 1–1 Portugal
25 June 2018
Spain 2–2 Morocco
25 June 2018
Saudi 2–1 Egypt
25 June 2018
Uruguay 3–0 Russia
24 June 2018
Poland 0–3 Colombia
24 June 2018
Japan 2–2 Senegal
24 June 2018
England 6–1 Panama
23 June 2018
Germany 2–1 Sweden
23 June 2018
Korea 1–2 Mexico
23 June 2018
Belgium 5–2 Tunisia
22 June 2018
Serbia 1–2 Switzerland
22 June 2018
Nigeria 2–0 Iceland
22 June 2018
Brazil 2–0 Costa Rica
21 June 2018
Argentina 0–3 Croatia
21 June 2018
France 1–0 Peru
21 June 2018
Denmark 1–1 Australia
20 June 2018
Iran 0–1 Spain
20 June 2018
Uruguay 1–0 Saudi
20 June 2018
Portugal 1–0 Morocco
19 June 2018
Russia 3–1 Egypt
19 June 2018
Poland 1–2 Senegal
19 June 2018
Colombia 1–2 Japan
18 June 2018
Tunisia 1–2 England
18 June 2018
Belgium 3–0 Panama
18 June 2018
Sweden 1–0 Korea
17 June 2018
Brazil 1–1 Switzerland
17 June 2018
Germany 0–1 Mexico
17 June 2018
Costa Rica 0–1 Serbia
16 June 2018
Croatia 2–0 Nigeria
16 June 2018
Peru 0–1 Denmark
16 June 2018
Argentina 1–1 Iceland
16 June 2018
France 2–1 Australia
15 June 2018
Portugal 3–3 Spain
15 June 2018
Morocco 0–1 Iran
15 June 2018
Egypt 0–1 Uruguay
14 June 2018
Russia 5–0 Saudi Arabia
