Croatia's World Cup Kit History
With Croatia about to play in their second successive World Cup semi-final, we take a look back at all of their unique chequered shirts that have appeared at the tournament over the years.
Croatia World Cup Kit History
At the last couple of tournaments, Croatia have established themselves as a resilient, technically proficient side that handle pressure extremely well. Having been part of Yugoslavia until 1991, Croatia have qualified for six of the eight World Cups that have taken place since they gained independence. Their chequered shirts meant they always stood out on the pitch, even when they didn't make it out of the group stage, and in recent years have become an essential component of a complete visual World Cup experience. Look back at each one they've worn at the tournament below.
1998
Croatia's first World Cup was a success on many levels. A third place finish at their first ever attempt, a golden boot for Davor Suker, and a gloriously 90s set of kits from Lotto. predominantly white, the chequered pattern was arranged to give the impression of a flag blowing in the wind.
The away shirt was mainly blue, but of course plenty of space in the underarm sections was reserved for a more uniform chequered section.
2002
Croatia switched to Nike in 2000 and were given the same template as everyone else for the 2002 World Cup. The pattern was hemmed in by the various seams and blue ventilated mesh on the front of the shirt, and partially obscured on the back by the large white squares that were applied with the numbers.
The away kit retained all the same colours but rotated them, so the torso was now blue while the shoulders were chequered. A polo collar was also added for good measure.
2006
Possibly the most straightforward home shirt that Croatia have had. No raglan sleeves, oddly placed seams or other disruptions to the pattern, everything was evenly chequered. Nike had the good sense to leave some - but not too much - white space on the back for number visibility. They did also pack a similarly plain blue away kit for the tournament, with a chequered stripe running down one side, but did not wear it as the were knocked out at the group stage.
2014
2014's shirt was a departure from the ones before it in the sense that red occupied more space than white thanks to the solid sleeves and back. The size of the squares also increased from previous years. Once more, they went home early and didn't get the chance to use their away kit which was the usual shade of blue. No prizes for guessing what pattern ran along the tops of the shoulders.
2018
Red sleeves returned in 2018 and even covered the tops of the shoulders. The checks were enlarged even further and had jagged edges. The players themselves showed their teeth in beating Argentina 3-0 in the group stage, knocking out Denmark and Russia on penalties and putting England on the plane home after the semi-finals before succumbing to defeat against the French at the last hurdle.
Their away shirt was one of the best of the tournament, the colour combo of navy and black working extremely well on the famous chequered pattern, and the red Swoosh provides the perfect choice and amount of accent colour.
2022
After steadily ceding white space to red over the years, Nike went back to a colour distribution more similar to their 1998 shirt for this year's World Cup. Chequered shoulders and a smattering of red squares across a mainly white torso is a new take on the famous design, but the shirt remains unmistakably Croatian.
Set for its tournament debut against Argentina tonight, their away shirt has divided opinion so far. It gives us something new through the addition of the blurred squares reminiscent of Windows 98, and a fetching navy and electric blue colour combo. It's sure to win the fans over if the result of the game is anything like when the two sides met in 2018.
What do you think of Croatia's World Cup shirts? Which one is your favourite? Comment below.
CR Belouizdad 26-27 Home Kit Released
Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 side CR Belouizdad have officially unveiled their new home kit for the 26-27 season, produced by Puma. Designed as a celebration of the club's legacy and identity, the shirt brings a classic look back to the forefront for the capital side.
The Puma CR Belouizdad 26-27 home shirt is predominantly red, anchored by a bold white chevron across the chest. It incorporates a white V-neck collar, patterned white sleeve cuffs, and a subtle "1962" detail on the sleeve honoring the year of the club's founding. The CRB crest with its championship star is placed over the chest alongside white Puma branding and the logo of main sponsor Madar Holding.
Built with Puma's dryCELL performance fabric and RE:FIBRE recycled materials, the new jersey is completed by matching red shorts and red socks.
Vitesse 26-27 Airborne Kit Released
Dutch club SBV Vitesse and technical partner Robey Sportswear have officially launched their special 2026-27 Airborne kit. Continuing an annual tradition that dates back to 2007, the kit commemorates the 1944 Battle of Arnhem and Operation Market Garden, and will be worn during the club's annual Airborne fixture in September.
Themed "V van Vrijheid" (V for Freedom), the shirt also pays tribute to a silent act of resistance during the club's 50th anniversary in 1942, when players formed a large 'V' on the pitch in a subtle nod to the Allied Victory sign. The jersey is presented in a deep bordeaux base covered in dynamic tonal chevron patterns that form subtle 'V' shapes across the torso. Contrasting sky blue accents highlight the collar, sleeve cuffs, and underarm panels, with a white poppy placed centrally on the chest between the Robey branding and the club crest.
Matching bordeaux shorts and sky blue socks decorated with claret chevrons complete the uniform. The Robey Vitesse 26-27 Airborne kit is available to purchase now through the club's official online store.
Cambodian Premier League Becomes First Asian League to Introduce "Debut" Sleeve Patches
The Cambodian Premier League has surprised kit enthusiasts and football followers by introducing an official "CPL DEBUT" sleeve patch, making it the first domestic league in Asia to adopt a dedicated debut patch on match shirts. While high-profile competitions across the continent like the Saudi Pro League, Japan's J.League, and South Korea's K League have yet to implement such badges, Cambodia's top flight has embraced the global trend.
Positioned directly underneath the official Cambodian Premier League crest on the right sleeve, the badge features a compact rectangular design with a bold red background and white "CPL DEBUT" lettering. The patch is applied to kits exclusively for players making their first-ever career appearance in the Cambodian Premier League, commemorating their milestone game on the pitch.
The concept takes inspiration from the debut patch movement that originated in American sports like Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer, which recently expanded to European football via UEFA and Topps for the UEFA Champions League. While the Cambodian version is an independent initiative by the league rather than a licensed trading card memorabilia tie-in, it adds a unique detail and collectible charm to debutants' match-worn shirts.
Newcastle United Announce BetMGM Partnership Extension
Newcastle United have officially announced a multi-year extension of their commercial partnership with BetMGM. The renewed agreement sees the operator, part of the LeoVegas Group, continue in its role as the Magpies' Official UK and European Betting Partner heading into the 26-27 season and beyond.
The collaboration first started in 2023 alongside BetMGM's launch in the UK market, following an earlier renewal in 2024. Over the past three seasons, the relationship has established a major presence on matchdays at St. James' Park, focusing primarily on fan engagement and digital activations rather than kit branding.
As part of the extended deal, Newcastle and BetMGM confirmed the return of the popular BetMGM Half-Time Challenge. The activation offers supporters attending home fixtures the opportunity to take to the pitch at the break and compete for prizes, including a trip to Las Vegas.
Footy Headlines Is Back on Instagram
Footy Headlines has officially returned to Instagram with a brand new account, @footyheadlinesoff. The comeback brings the site's football kit leaks, boot news, and gear coverage back to the platform.
You can follow the new official account on Instagram now via @footyheadlinesoff to keep track of all upcoming kit leaks and shirt releases.