After trying (and failing) to build suspense for World Cup jerseys that had already been leaked, Nike and U.S. Soccer confirmed Thursday that the U.S. men’s national team will indeed wear the much-maligned kits in Qatar.
In separate announcements — the first coming from Nike in the early morning hours — fans got an official look at the jerseys that had been almost universally hated by a fanbase that doesn’t typically agree on much. The home jersey features a centered crest, Nike logos on the sleeves and sleeve striping more reminiscent of American football jerseys. The away kit will be a blue and dark blue tie-dye shirt with the centered crest.
Ready for the big stage. 🇺🇸#USMNT x @nikefootball
— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) September 15, 2022
The USMNT drop their home and away kits for the 2022 World Cup 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/NuLWtxAyzs
— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 15, 2022
There are almost too many issues with the home jersey to list. First of all, it comes directly from a Nike template currently being used in training kits seen for European teams like PSG and Barcelona. Stunning lack of creativity aside, it just doesn’t look like a soccer jersey. And that’s because Nike admitted that they borrowed elements from basketball, American football and hockey rather than highlighting any distinct look for American soccer. Via Yahoo Sports:
Nike, which has not yet responded to detailed questions from Yahoo Sports about how the kits came to be, said in its release that the white “uniform design cues include bold stripes, an enlarged center crest akin to basketball jerseys, double Swooshes on the sleeves reminiscent of those used on American football jerseys, the unique shoulder and sleeve cut-and-sew construction and pattern of a hockey jersey, and timeless block lettering.”
Big yikes. That *enormous* block lettering really has the jersey resembling a hockey or NFL jersey, which is not ideal.
And for the away kit, Nike believed it was paying homage to American fashion and streetwear by utilizing a tie-dye design.
The whole set is a disappointment when you consider that fans waited eight years for these kits. They hated the jerseys when they leaked this past month, and fans hated the jerseys on Thursday.
This was how Twitter reacted
waited 8 years for this https://t.co/8Kwa11uD6i pic.twitter.com/6sVku6Ks4y
— Med (@KahunaMed) September 15, 2022
So bland. So boring. You have 4 years to do better https://t.co/eUNnBE74mz
— Ken Gartin (@RedTheTrucker) September 15, 2022
Congratulations @NikeFootball.
Nothing has ever united #USMNT fans more than the hate we have for these lazy and uninspired jerseys. https://t.co/xEnn2kJzDk
— Matt Garner (@MatthewGarner) September 15, 2022
these are probably the worst USA jerseys i’ve ever seen https://t.co/FtY1Xa2jZg
— RR BENNY (@bennnynthejets) September 15, 2022
Trash trash trash
Where's Waldo jerseys for the "light kit"
A navy blue kit for the dark kit and don't trick it up https://t.co/LyQcnFZ0EJ— Matt Stepp (@Matt_Stepp817) September 15, 2022
More evidence… https://t.co/d91lHIRnez pic.twitter.com/40mbEv8qhW
— Grant Turberville (@Turberville) September 15, 2022
This is why the USMNT will never win a World Cup https://t.co/W3EE7fd4a1 pic.twitter.com/1FLK64eXK9
— Cloud City Sooner (@OUClub_Bespin) September 15, 2022
Fire the design team at Nike. Fire whoever at US Soccer approved this. Bunch of losers. https://t.co/MnLMMg7XxM
— It’s me…ya boi (@TheAdmiredBrah) September 15, 2022
oh my god these are awful https://t.co/XzKAaa1BVj
— manny machado propagandist (@purpl3m) September 15, 2022
These are bad and you should feel bad https://t.co/Y2YXfQlmUz
— Josh White (@joshswhite) September 15, 2022
“Please help” https://t.co/xdaISlMU9o pic.twitter.com/w3cDxr32V9
— Jake: Most Plastic Fire Fan (@WusijiEx) September 15, 2022
fire everyone at Nike, this is embarrassing https://t.co/r0TlUzp5aW
— Hunter Otteni (@_hotteni) September 15, 2022
Everyone involved really should be embarrassed. Do better next time, Nike and USSF.
