England and the United States will meet on the pitch at the 2022 World Cup on Friday — but they might be slightly difficult to tell apart.
Both teams historically have red, white, and blue as their primary colours, leading to a potential kit clash.
With England the designated home team, this has led to a few problems…
The Athletic explains how we’ve reached this situation.
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Every World Cup question you’ve been too afraid to ask
What will each team be wearing?
England are the designated home team, so have the choice of kit. Their home kit is white with shoulders the colour of “blue fury”, according to the FA.
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Usually, the away team is allowed to wear their home kit. However, because the United States’ home kit is also predominantly white, they are not allowed to wear it due to a kit clash.
Instead, they will wear their dark blue away kit, which includes a tie-dye style black pattern. This is where the potential kit clash arises, with both teams’ shirts featuring blue prominently.
England’s red away kit does not come into it, as they are the designated home team.
USMNT to wear blue kits in remaining Group B matches against England on Friday and Iran next Tuesday, per a spokesperson.
Only played one match in them: 0-0 draw vs. Saudi Arabia in September. pic.twitter.com/UCWQVpG21d
— Sam Stejskal (@samstejskal) November 24, 2022
What are the FIFA rules on kit?
FIFA being FIFA, there is plenty of detail in the rule-book, very little of which answers the issue clearly.
Articles 27.1 and 27.2 say: “The display of political, religious or personal messages or slogans of any nature in any language or form by players and officials on their playing or team kits, equipment (including kit bags, beverage containers, medical bags, etc.) or body is prohibited.
“The similar display of commercial messages and slogans of any nature in any language or form by players and officials is not allowed for the duration of their time at any official activity organised by FIFA.
“Each team shall inform FIFA of two different and contrasting colours for each of its first-choice (official) and alternative (reserve) team playing kit items (shirt, shorts and socks). In addition, each team shall select three contrasting colours for the goalkeepers. These three goalkeeper kits must be different and contrasting from each other as well as from the first-choice and alternative team playing kits.
“This information shall be submitted online via the team colour form by the stipulated deadline. Only these colours, once reviewed and approved by FIFA as stated in art. 28 par. 3 below, may be worn during matches.”
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How do FIFA decide which kits are worn?
So, the process works in the following way. FIFA tell the participating sides which kit they’ll be wearing in the group stages approximately two months before the start of the competition.
The organisation state they want each team to wear their first-choice colours “as far as possible”. However, in the case of a clash, FIFA assign the following order of priority:
If that does not produce an adequate differentiation of colours, the process is repeated in reverse order.
FIFA attempt to ensure that every team wears their home kit at least once during the group stages, and will consider colour-blindness in any kit clashes.
So, why is this allowed?
Effectively, multiple officials have looked at the comparison between England’s home kit and the United States away kit, and decided no clash exists.
The referee assessor and match director have the chance to review the kits, while teams also get the opportunity to approve in advance.
If there were concerns over a clash, the process would have started in reverse order, likely ending in England being forced to wear their red away kit despite being the home team.
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The Radar - The Athletic's 2022 World Cup scouting guide
Read more: England 0-0 USA: All-action McKennie, retreating Kane and how USMNT dominated right side
(Photo: Getty Images)
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