Historic Look: Uruguay Wear Pink Socks for Breast Cancer Awareness
- Historic Pink Socks Debut: The Uruguay national football team wore pink socks for the first time in their 126-year history during an international friendly against India to support Pink October and raise awareness for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
- The "ONCE" Awareness Campaign: This initiative was part of a special awareness campaign titled "ONCE," which holds dual significance, representing both the eleven players on the pitch and the statistic that one in eleven women in Uruguay will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
- Raising Awareness Through Football: With over 1,800 breast cancer cases annually in Uruguay, the Uruguayan Football Association used the global reach of the national team to emphasize the importance of early detection and prevention.
For the first time in their 126-year history, the Uruguay national football team took to the pitch wearing pink socks during an international friendly against India on October 6, 2026, at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. The unique look was created to support Pink October and raise awareness for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
First Time in 126 Years: Uruguay Wear Pink Socks
Check out the special kit combination below.
Organised by the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) alongside Uruguay's Ministry of Public Health and the Honorary Commission for the Fight Against Cancer, the initiative formed part of a special awareness campaign titled "ONCE".
The campaign name "ONCE" (meaning eleven in Spanish) carries dual significance. It reflects the eleven players representing the country on the pitch, while also highlighting the sobering medical statistic that one in every eleven women in Uruguay will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
With approximately five new diagnoses recorded daily in Uruguay and over 1,800 cases annually, the AUF used the global reach of the national team to emphasise early detection and prevention.
Made by Nike, the light pink socks featured a darker pink Swoosh on the shin and a distinctive embroidered pink ribbon symbol on the calf.
They were paired with Uruguay's signature sky-blue home jersey and matching sky-blue shorts, providing a striking and meaningful visual contrast on the field.
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