The US men's national team has unveiled their kits for the 2026 World Cup, with players taking a central role in the design process after widespread dissatisfaction with the 2022 uniforms. The new 'Stars Kit' and 'Stripes Kit' were revealed to the squad during a team meeting in Austin, Texas, ahead of a friendly against Ecuador.
The reaction among players was markedly different from 2022, when the team's white and blue kits were met with near-universal disdain. Midfielder Tyler Adams recalled that players had drawn straws to avoid being photographed in the old kits, with some refusing outright. The experience led to a demand for greater involvement in the design cycle for 2026.
Nike executives, including former MLS player Devin Barclay, engaged with the squad from November 2023, conducting interviews to understand what the players wanted the shirts to represent. Themes such as legacy, tradition, and freedom emerged, with Weston McKennie emphasising the desire for a design that would elicit a 'that's sick' reaction.
The resulting kits feature bold designs, with the goalkeeper kit drawing comparisons to Jorge Campos's 1994 World Cup attire. Nike designer Yaz Rosete noted that the process involved multiple in-person meetings to ensure the players felt heard and represented. 'The best thing they could do was give us that rawness,' Rosete said.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first tournament on home soil in three decades, adding significance to the kit launch. The federation has dubbed the uniforms the Stars Kit and Stripes Kit, aiming to create something 'undeniably American'.
