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Only one can be crowned winner of the best 2022 World Cup kit
The first two knockout rounds delivered some shocks, and Brazil and England were both unlucky not to make it to the final four. Instead, there are two historic World Cup big guns in Germany and Argentina and two potential usurpers in Japan and Denmark. Will the trophy go to the team with the best kit, or will it be won by consistency across home and away?
The Semi Finals
After overcoming Brazil in the Quarter Finals, Japan’s draw doesn’t get any easier and it's Argentina in the semis. This game is between two of the World Cup of Kits big guns, and it's a face-off between the only two teams with a 10/10 kit.
Argentina’s home kit is solid, especially the different-sized stripes and black trim, but they’re pinning their hopes that their flame-covered away kit is enough to get them into the final. Japan, on the other hand, are banking that their home shirt is enough to guarantee progression. In the end, though, those two cancel each other out and Japan just about edges it, thanks to their away shirt. It's a close-fought thing, but Japan are into the final.
Winners: Japan
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It’s an all-European competition for the second slot in the final, and it comes down to Denmark’s political statement and Germany’s updated tradition. Both countries score particularly highly on their away shirts, with Denmark’s all-white shirt up against the black and maroon colour palette used by Germany.
The tie is decided by the home shirts. Germany’s white base and central black stripe just misses out to the red shirt of Denmark. Denmark’s progression to the final proves the power of simplicity done right with kit designs, while also showing the power of the statement the country and Hummel chose to make.
Winners: Denmark
The Final
At the last World Cup, Japan played in a home shirt covered in white detailing inspired by traditional Sashiko stitching. It was one of the best at the tournament, and Japan still only made it to the Round of 16.
Now, in the World Cup of Kits, they can make up for that unfair loss. The title is rightly theirs for their home and away shirts, both of which introduce a unique motif inspired by the nation itself. From a design perspective, they also show the perfect way to create similarities between home and away shirts without just flipping the colours (other teams could learn a thing or two).
Denmark are unlucky to lose, having made it to their first final since Euro 1992. In the end, though, the best kit at the tournament rightly wins.
Winners: Japan
Third Place Play Off
While Japan vs Denmark might not be what anyone predicted for the actual World Cup final, Germany vs Argentina is a lot more likely to come true. The two international heavyweights should be disappointed to be contesting the third place play-off, rather than the final, but it’s still a close-fought match.
Both countries have shown how they can subtly rework iconic home kits at the tournament, but the away kits are the space for experimentation and innovative design. And so, once again, the match is decided by Argentina’s away shirt. The flame pattern – which is taken from the “Sun of May” on the country’s flag – and the colour combination (a reference to the country’s work for gender equality) make Argentina the worthy winners… of the third place play-off.
Winners: Argentina