What makes Nike jerseys for national teams special?

The number of jerseys launched by Nike this week for various football federations around the world that are under the Swoosh may have left some feeling disoriented. Such a kaleidoscope of colors, logos, patterns and prints that in some cases have made certain details and curiosities get lost, making the game jerseys even more special. Now that the dust is settling, we can better appreciate the efforts made by the designers and play with styles and references inserted into the jerseys, to take an imaginary trip around the world through the kits of the national teams sponsored by Nike.  

The square collar of Nigeria

The Nike jerseys for the Nigerian National Team are always highly anticipated by fans and collectors, and the two new SuperEagles kits did not disappoint. In particular, the Away jersey introduces two really interesting innovations, one on the side of the design and the other on the application of logos. The first is represented by the presence of a square, or squared, collar with 45-degree stitching between the edges, an innovation we have never seen on a game kit before. The second special detail of the jersey lies in the absence of the federation logo, replaced by the word Naija on the chest, which means Nigeria in the local language.

The central logo of Brazil

The Brazil jersey also plays a special role in the hearts of every football enthusiast, and so do these latest kits created by Nike for the Copa America, which possess a detail that immediately makes us dream. In fact, for the first time in twenty years, the crest of the green and gold Confederation will be placed in the center of the jersey and not on the side of the heart, both in the Home and Away versions. The last time the CBF symbol was in the center was in 2004, when Nike launched the historic Total 90 template with game numbers enclosed in a circle and the Seleção was led by Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo. Different names, same style.  

The pinstripes of France

France has also chosen to bring back a design from its glorious past through its Away jersey, which features a subtle pinstripe like the one on the uniforms worn in the early '80s. A light design that uses red and blue stripes to mark an otherwise white jersey and gives it the elegance that we usually associate with the French National Team. In 2010, adidas had created a similar Away jersey, but Nike has decided to up the ante by adding a giant rooster, the logo of the French federation. 

The Oval patch of Canada

After a long dispute between Nike and the Canadian Federation, they have finally released new jerseys for the Maple Leaf National Team. And fortunately, the result has convinced everyone. The new Canada jerseys propose a unique design within this year's Nike line, a vintage-inspired brand patch. The Swoosh logo is set in an oval that immediately recalls the AirMax95 aesthetic, and the patch is in the center of the Home jersey while it returns to the right side on the Away one.

The ceramics of Portugal

For the last Portugal jersey, Nike has decided to leave a mark, not only metaphorically but also physically, with a pattern that seems to have been created by imprinting Azulejos on the game jersey. The characteristic ceramic tiles that adorn Portuguese palaces here become the descriptive motif of the Away version of the kit that Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates will wear at Euro2024. A tribute to the culture and tradition of the Andalusian country and at the same time a bold design that will set Portugal apart on the pitch. 

The Taegeuk-inspired pattern of South Korea

The South Korean National Team is one of the most attentive to the aesthetic aspect of their game jerseys, given the great interest in the lifestyle side of football in the Asian country. And the new jerseys created by Nike follow this trend, particularly the Home jersey which uses a bright red and mint green details to create a pattern inspired by the Taegeuk. The spiritual symbol that refers to the fundamental reality according to which all beings are generated became part of the flag at the end of the 19th century and now appears in the design of the home jersey of the national team.