Last reviewed: June 2026
FIFA regulates the playing kits worn by national teams at the World Cup through its Equipment Regulations. These rules cover shirt colours, numbering, branding, sleeve and collar specifications, and the requirements for goalkeepers' kits. Teams must have their kits approved by FIFA before the tournament.
Key points
- All playing kits worn at the World Cup must be approved by FIFA before the tournament begins.
- Teams must submit two distinct kits (home and away) that can be told apart clearly if worn simultaneously.
- Player names must appear on the back of shirts in Latin script, with squad numbers on the front and back.
- Commercial branding on kits is limited by FIFA regulations regarding size and placement of sponsor logos.
- Goalkeepers must wear shirts that are clearly distinguishable from both teams' outfield kits and from the referee's kit.
FIFA Equipment Regulations: The Framework
FIFA publishes Equipment Regulations that govern the playing kit worn by national teams and players at all FIFA competitions including the World Cup. These regulations are part of FIFA's broader technical standards framework and must be complied with by all participating national associations. The regulations cover every element of the playing kit including shirts, shorts, socks, boots, and accessories such as captains' armbands and compression garments.
The purpose of the Equipment Regulations is threefold: to ensure visual clarity in identifying players and teams; to maintain consistent standards across all competing nations; and to control commercial branding in a way that protects FIFA's own commercial rights while permitting national associations and their technical sponsors to display their branding within defined limits.
Before the tournament begins, each national association must submit their proposed playing kits to FIFA for review and approval. FIFA's equipment department reviews the submitted kits against the regulations and either approves them, requests modifications, or requires a specific kit to be changed. National associations cannot introduce new kits or make changes to approved kits during the tournament without FIFA approval.
Colour Clash Rules
FIFA requires each nation to register two playing kits: a primary kit and a secondary kit. The two kits must be sufficiently different in colour that if both teams were wearing their primary kits simultaneously, they could be clearly distinguished by players, officials, and spectators. Before each match, FIFA assigns which team wears their primary kit and which wears their secondary kit based on the colour clash assessment.
The colour clash rules are designed to prevent visual confusion that would impair the ability of players to identify teammates and opponents during play. A match played between teams in similar or identical kit colours would create practical difficulties for players making split-second decisions and for referees identifying incidents involving specific players.
In practice, the colour assignment for each match is typically straightforward: the team listed first in the draw wears their primary kit unless there is a colour clash, in which case the team listed second switches to their secondary kit. FIFA provides detailed colour comparison guidance to technical staff before each match to confirm the arrangements.
Numbering and Naming Requirements
FIFA requires that players' squad numbers appear on both the front and back of shirts. The number on the back must be significantly larger than the number on the front, to allow identification from a distance during play. The specific size requirements for numbers are detailed in FIFA's Equipment Regulations.
Player names must appear on the back of shirts in Latin script at all FIFA competitions. This requirement applies even for nations whose domestic football uses a different script, such as Arabic, Cyrillic, or other writing systems. The use of Latin script is a standardisation measure to ensure that all team officials, referees, and media personnel can read player names across language differences.
Names must be displayed within specified size and placement parameters. FIFA may permit teams to display player names in their native script in addition to the required Latin script, subject to space and design constraints being met. The use of accented or special characters in Latin script is permitted where these are standard in the player's name.
Commercial Branding Restrictions
National teams at the World Cup typically wear kits supplied by a technical sponsor - a sportswear manufacturer such as Adidas, Nike, Puma, or others. The technical sponsor's branding can appear on the playing kit subject to FIFA's Equipment Regulations limits on size and placement. These limits are set to prevent the commercial branding on players' kits from competing visually with FIFA's own tournament branding or with the national association's badge.
The technical sponsor logo is typically permitted on the chest (opposite the national association badge) and possibly on the shorts and socks, within specified maximum dimensions. National associations may also carry their own commercial sponsors on kits subject to FIFA's approval and the placement rules. The national association badge must appear in the standard position and within certain size parameters.
FIFA controls the commercial rights to the tournament itself and licenses these rights to official tournament sponsors. The Equipment Regulations ensure that the commercial branding on individual teams' kits does not undermine FIFA's commercial arrangements with its own sponsors. National associations are responsible for ensuring their kit design and commercial partner arrangements comply with FIFA's regulations before seeking kit approval.
Goalkeeper Kit Requirements
Goalkeepers must wear kits that are clearly distinguishable from the kits worn by outfield players on both teams and from the kit worn by the referee. This requirement exists to allow all players, the referee team, and spectators to immediately identify the goalkeeper during play.
In practice, goalkeepers typically wear shirts in a distinctly different colour from the outfield players. Before each match, the referee confirms that the goalkeeper's kit is sufficiently distinct from the other kits in the match. If the proposed goalkeeper kit clashes with another kit, the goalkeeper may be required to change to an alternative colour.
The goalkeeper's shorts and socks are subject to less strict colour requirements than the shirt, which is the primary identifying element for visual distinction. However, the overall combination of the goalkeeper's kit must create a clear visual distinction from other participants in the match.
Accessories and Additional Items
FIFA regulations also govern accessories worn by players during matches. The captain of each team wears an armband identifying them as captain. The design and colour of the captain's armband must comply with FIFA requirements, which specify that it must be clearly visible and not carry unauthorised commercial or political messaging.
Compression garments worn under the playing kit, such as undershirts and compression tights, must be the same colour as the main kit element they are worn beneath. A player wearing a white undershirt under a dark shirt would not comply with the regulation. This requirement maintains the visual consistency of each team's kit as seen on the pitch.
Gloves, hats for goalkeepers, and other functional accessories may be worn subject to the referee's discretion, provided they do not carry unauthorised branding and do not create a safety risk. Players wearing religious or cultural head coverings may request accommodation, which FIFA addresses through its regulations on religious and cultural exemptions subject to safety considerations.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
If a team is found to be wearing kit that does not comply with FIFA Equipment Regulations, the match referee has authority to require the non-compliant element to be changed before or during the match. In serious cases, FIFA's Disciplinary Committee can impose sanctions on the national association. Commercial sponsors displaying branding in violation of FIFA's regulations may face action by FIFA against the national association for the breach.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does FIFA approve national team kits for the World Cup?
National associations submit their proposed playing kits to FIFA's equipment department before the tournament. FIFA reviews each kit against the Equipment Regulations and either approves it, requests modifications, or requires changes. Teams must have all kits approved before the tournament begins and cannot introduce new designs during the competition without approval.
Can players wear national symbols or cultural insignia on their kits?
The national association badge is a standard element of all kits. Additional national symbols or insignia are subject to FIFA Equipment Regulations regarding placement and commercial branding. Political insignia or messaging is prohibited under FIFA's rules. Religious and cultural expressions by individual players are subject to specific FIFA guidance on what is permitted.
What happens if two teams have similar coloured kits?
FIFA assigns which team wears their primary or secondary kit before each match based on a colour clash assessment. If both primary kits are too similar, the team listed second in the draw typically switches to their secondary kit. Both kits must be registered and approved before the tournament begins, so the secondary kit is always available as an alternative.
Can goalkeepers wear any colour they like?
Goalkeepers can wear kits in colours different from the outfield players, but the goalkeeper's kit must be clearly distinguishable from the outfield kits of both teams and from the referee's kit. The specific colour must be confirmed before each match as part of the pre-match procedure. FIFA and the referee team verify the distinction is adequate.
Are there restrictions on what can be printed on players' boots?
Boots are subject to FIFA Equipment Regulations regarding commercial branding. The boot manufacturer's branding can appear within the regulated limits. Personalised messages, political statements, or unauthorised commercial branding on boots are subject to FIFA's review and may require modification before a player can wear the boots in a tournament match.
