The United States and Nike have collaborated once again to produce a new collection of kits for the men’s national team, with this particular set being significant as they will be donned during the 2026 World Cup on home turf.
No event compares to a World Cup hosted at home, generating more attention and enthusiasm than any other. Even the U.S., which previously hosted in 1994, has never organized an event of this magnitude with such a vast audience expected.
So, how do these kits appear? And how do they compare to the others the U.S. has sported since qualifying for their first modern World Cup in 1990?
Considering overall aesthetic appeal, distinctiveness, and, most importantly, how well they represent the nation, here is a ranking of the 18 kits the men have worn (or will wear) in the World Cup.
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1. 1994 World Cup away kit
This kit is so exceptional that Adidas is reissuing it 32 years later, despite no longer being a U.S. Soccer sponsor and thus unable to use the crest. They are even launching an entire lifestyle collection alongside it, and it is selling rapidly. It has garnered much admiration.
The denim-inspired design featuring waving stars is the most iconic appearance the Americans have ever showcased, whether in the World Cup or otherwise, due to its uniquely American essence. This kit is unmistakably distinct from any other nation’s attire and performs well on the field, thanks to the contrasting red shorts, making it suitable as an actual uniform. It meets every criterion and remains the most unforgettable kit for a team that has yet to establish a recognizable brand.
2. 2006 World Cup home kit
Following its journey to the 2002 quarterfinals, and with an unprecedented media campaign, the U.S. entered 2006 with heightened attention and expectations, accompanied by a kit that matched such aspirations.
The red-and-blue offset stripe elegantly frames the crest, which remains prominent due to the gold outline. The font for the numbers complements the overall design, and the blue shorts enhance the ensemble perfectly. If U.S. Soccer ever aimed to finalize a design for a permanent home kit, this would be ideal for a white shirt that has often failed to make an impact. It is straightforward yet possesses a recognizable aesthetic, effectively utilizing the red, white, and blue of the flag.
3. 2006 World Cup away kit
The U.S. arrived in Germany with its finest kit ever, featuring an away uniform that rivals its home counterpart. Drawing inspiration from the Americans’ 1995 kit, the navy shirt with a central red and white stripe is striking.
Similar to the home kit, the brilliance lies in taking fairly conventional kit design elements and refreshing them, while ensuring the typically forgettable all-white or all-navy look truly stands out. The term “classy” is often overused for kits, but it is fitting here.
4. 2010 World Cup away kit
Nike and U.S. Soccer entered their sash era, and while many designs fell short, this one truly excels. The white sash contrasts sharply against the navy shirt while still allowing space for the crest and number. The white shorts and navy socks maintain uniformity throughout the kit, alternating seamlessly, and the touch of red trim around the collar and sash provides a necessary contrast. The only critique is that a bit more red on the shorts and socks would have enhanced the overall look.
5. 1994 World Cup home kit
One could argue that this shirt is as impressive as its 1994 counterpart. The waving stripes evoke the flag and the stripes on the away shirt, making the set as quintessentially American as any the U.S. has ever worn. That carries significant weight.
The only drawback is that it was only worn for one World Cup match, in the round of 16 when Brazil’s blue shorts necessitated the Americans to pair red shorts with this shirt. This resulted in a red overload that diminished the overall quality. It is unfortunate they never had the opportunity to wear this shirt with the blue shorts as intended, as it could have topped this entire list.
6. 2014 World Cup away kit
Affectionately dubbed “the Bomb Pop” kit, after the popular popsicle it resembled, this design epitomized American summer. This is precisely what U.S. World Cup kits should convey—especially when the tournament occurs in the summer.
The lighter shade of blue may have been overwhelming for some, but it works in a kit as deliberately bold as this, occupying only a small portion of the shirt at the top. The red-dominant appearance is atypical for the U.S., which usually favors white or navy, yet it succeeds and stands out in the history of U.S. kits. It is noteworthy that during the one World Cup match the Americans wore the Bomb Pops, John Brooks scored a late winner, marking a memorable moment in USMNT history.
7. 1998 World Cup away kit
Another red kit! Its high ranking is largely due to its rarity as a red U.S. kit. The federation has long avoided red kits, but this one adds a bit of flair that a team often clad in dull outfits could benefit from.
This kit is not particularly innovative, featuring merely a thin horizontal stripe and collar for character, with a crest that is too small. However, it is effective enough because the red stands out prominently.
8. 2002 World Cup home kit
This was not a particularly strong period for Nike, as it provided all its teams with the same kit templates, but the U.S. fared better than most nations with this outfit. It successfully incorporated both red and blue into the side panels, as well as red beneath the collar, with stripes on the socks that at least gave it an American feel and distinguished it from other teams using the same template. Wearing it during two of the most significant victories in American soccer history—against Portugal and Mexico—certainly adds to its appeal.
9. 2026 World Cup home kit
What was once old is new again, as Nike and U.S. Soccer have revisited waving stripes for the home World Cup, reminiscent of their approach 32 years ago. Unfortunately, this iteration does not appear nearly as appealing as it did in 1994, with the peculiar shading on the stripes resembling a glitch. Additionally, the requirement for the name and number to be on a solid color creates a symmetrical, hard-line box on the back of a kit whose design is inherently asymmetrical and lacks hard lines, resulting in a disappointing outcome, especially since it had the potential to be exceptional.
The solution for this kit, and for every U.S. home kit, is to wear the Waldos with horizontal stripes that mimic the flag. This design bears some resemblance to that kit, but ultimately ended up closer to 1994, and the attempt to merge the two did not succeed.
10. 1990 World Cup home kit
When the U.S. qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 40 years, it was somewhat overlooked. Not only by global soccer, and certainly in American sports, but also by Adidas. Thus, the USMNT traveled to Italy with a simple white shirt featuring some blue accents that Adidas had in a template, along with a federation crest that has undergone three changes since then.
Nonetheless, it is not an unattractive shirt. The old, overly intricate crest serves as a focal point, and the shoulder stripes extending down to the chest add some character. If that feels a bit underwhelming, perhaps the notably short shorts worn by the U.S. players with these shirts will appeal to you.
11. 1998 World Cup home kit
The 1998 kits featured the exact same design, and while the away kit had some appeal due to its rarity as a red kit, the white version is somewhat forgettable. The single stripe serves as the primary design element, but the blue collar adds a touch of distinction, and the red outline on the blue numbers is a nice detail. It may not be a kit to remember, but it does have its merits.
12. 2022 World Cup away kit
Center crests are challenging to execute without making the shirt appear cluttered. Nike addressed this to some extent by placing their swoosh on the sleeves, allowing only the crest and number to occupy the center of this design. In terms of center crests, this is relatively well done.
The remainder of the kit is not particularly noteworthy, with blue and black blending in a tie-dye-like manner, ensuring it stands out from previous designs, but that is about all that can be said regarding this look. Given that several actual U.S. players reacted to the 2022 kits with disdain, it is difficult to advocate for this jersey.
13. 2022 World Cup home kit
The U.S. faced four years of criticism after missing the 2018 World Cup, leading many to question if it would ever become a genuine soccer nation. Thus, when it returned to the sport’s grandest stage, it was presented with a kit inspired by other sports. This is not a joke.
The sleeve stripes, center crest, and patterning were all derived from American football, basketball, and hockey, presumably to align with the sporting calendar since the World Cup was being held in the winter for the first time. While it is not a terrible design, with the red and blue contrasting adequately and the socks appearing sharp, it lacks coherence as a kit because the sleeve stripes seem out of place in soccer. Indeed, they would not exist in this sport.
14. 2026 World Cup away kit
This kit may perform adequately on the streets, as its dark blue hue is nearly black, which could attract some fans, but it feels incomplete. The absence of trim, the shaded stars, and the removal of color from the crest make it resemble more of a training kit than a game jersey, let alone a World Cup kit. It simply appears unfinished.
This also underscores how much of a misstep U.S. Soccer’s redesigned crest is. The lack of color on the kit places a heavy burden on the crest to distinctly represent American soccer, yet a clip art logo more suited for a Walmart Fourth of July shirt fails to achieve that.
15. 2010 World Cup home kit
U.S. Soccer’s sash era was not without merit. After all, it produced the excellent 2010 away kit and a sharp red kit in 2011. The issue arose when they hesitated to fully commit to the sash, opting to incorporate it without proper integration, as seen in 2012’s Waldos and blue shirt with white sleeves.
This kit was the least successful, resembling a typical white shirt, but featuring a very light gray sash across the front. It occupies space and restricts the addition of other design elements, while barely being noticeable itself. This would have looked significantly better if the sash had been blue or even red (apologies to Peru), but Landon Donovan wore it to secure a dramatic victory over Algeria, which lends it a slight boost.
16. 2002 World Cup away kit
While the 2002 home kit utilized the template Nike provided and adapted it with red and blue side panels, the away kit featured no red at all. It was simply a navy shirt with some white accents, and the only indication that it was a U.S. shirt was the crest. If you acquired a dozen of these and removed the crest, you and your friends would blend in at any Sunday league.
At least Hugh Dallas could not blame the U.S. kit for missing the clear handball that would have given the Americans a chance to equalize against Germany in the quarterfinal, a match in which they performed admirably.
17. 1990 World Cup away kit
While there is some appeal in the design of the Americans’ 1990 kits, and it works adequately for the home shirt, it does not translate well to the away version. The shade of blue is off, and the crest does not stand out as effectively. This is where it becomes evident that the U.S. had not participated in a World Cup since 1950, and everyone was somewhat astonished that it managed to qualify 40 years later, necessitating a hasty assembly of kits for the trip to Italy.
18. 2014 World Cup home kit
Why spend over $120 on a U.S. kit when you could simply visit Old Navy, purchase a white polo, and sew the crest onto the chest? This is arguably the most uninspired kit the U.S. has ever worn, and it is remarkable that multiple levels of individuals at various organizations approved this design.
No minimal red trim or barely noticeable hoops can redeem this kit. Did Nike and U.S. Soccer forget about the impending World Cup and run out of time? At least it could be worn to the office without anyone questioning its appropriateness as sportswear.
