Why the USMNT will wear their away kit vs. Belgium in World Cup
Despite being the home team, the U.S. will wear their navy blue away kit against Belgium in the World Cup round of 16 to avoid a color clash.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Bryan Berlin
The United States, co-hosting the World Cup, is the designated home team for the round-of-16 clash against Belgium. However, Mauricio Pochettino’s side will not be wearing their iconic red and white striped home jersey, opting instead for their all-navy blue away kit.
This decision stems from the need to avoid a color clash. Belgium’s home jersey is predominantly red, which would blend with the red stripes on the U.S. home kit. Their away jersey, featuring a light base with various patches, also creates visual difficulties for players, fans, and officials.
The issue became apparent during a pre-tournament friendly in March, where the teams' similar colors caused significant confusion. Players like Christian Pulisic and Belgium’s Amadou Onana criticized the experience, noting it was difficult to identify teammates during the match, especially during set pieces.
FIFA regulations dictate that teams must wear contrasting colors. Given that neither the home nor the away kits of both sides provided sufficient distinction in previous encounters, the switch to the navy blue strip was finalized to ensure clarity throughout the knockout tie.