A Colorful Challenge
The kit assignments for the round of 16 were published by FIFA on July 2, revealing that the United States will wear blue jerseys when it meets Belgium. To prevent a visual clash, Belgium will instead sport its turquoise away kit for the encounter.
The decision follows a friendly earlier this year in which both squads wore colors that were too close, leaving players unable to pick out teammates on the field. The mismatch forced a rethink of the wardrobe choices for the knockout stage.
Christian Pulisic has spoken about the added pressure of playing in a kit that blends with the opponent’s colors, noting that the confusion can disrupt on‑field communication. The United States has yet to break a losing streak while wearing the new blue kit, which was introduced in March and has resulted in three defeats.
FIFA’s role in coordinating the apparel has been highlighted, as the governing body’s kit allocations aim to balance aesthetic differences while maintaining fairness across the tournament.