In Detail - FIFA's 2018 World Cup Kit Rules Are Immense

Did you know that manufacturers of football kits must adhere to a 104-page FIFA's Equipment Regulation guide when designing kits for competitions such as the World Cup? We take detailed look at FIFA's very strict kit regulations, revealing that manufactures were anything but free when designing their jerseys for the 2018 World Cup (FIFA requires manufacturers to submit all designs one year in advance).

FIFA's document describes the propose of their kit regulations: "The overriding principle of the FIFA Equipment Regulations is to treat all Member Associations on an equal basis in the spirit of fair play and to allow manufacturers to enhance our sport, fostering medical protection and performance support as well as aesthetic creativity and design."

In Detail - FIFA Equipment Regulations

The first sections of the FIFA Equipment Regulations are uninteresting in terms of kit designs but already give an impression how detailed everything is defined. They provide definitions of important terms and words used in the following pages while stating that the kit rules apply for all federations equally.

The first important chapter in terms of football kit designs describes the principle of colors, which defines that each county needs contrasting home and away shirts following the principle of light and dark shirts. It is also defined that checkered and stripes shirts have to use two colors equally.

It is important to know that FIFA's pictures only include the 'basic rules', while the text includes much more clear (stricter) regulations (e.g. no Playing Equipment item worn by an outfield player or goalkeeper may consist of more than four colors).

In fact, every element that finds it way on a kit is defined in FIFA's Equipment Regulations - we have included some images to show it off.

Unfortunately for companies such as Nike, which prides itself on iridescent or chrome numbers, equipment may not be made of reflective material or change color or appearance due to lighting or water and must be distinguishable from the rest of the kit. If a number were to clash with the rest of the uniform, a squared number zone would be created on the front and back of the shirt.

FIFA's kit regulations prohibited Adidas to make 'real remakes' of their gigantic Three Stripes 1990s designs for the 2018 World Cup

In addition, no player with temporary means, such as Velcro, will be allowed in the competition.

Like member identification logos, manufacturer logos are also strict regulated. The manufacturer may place its name/wordmark and logo on any equipment item it so chooses, but are only permitted to use it three times throughout the kit.

FIFA's Equipment Regulations do not only include football uniforms but all parts a player is allowed / able to wear such as undershirts, caps and gloves.

Feel free to check out FIFA's Equipment Regulations in full and share your thoughts on them in the comments below.