The television network evaluated the home and away attire of all 48 participating national teams, alongside the alternative third kits of nine selected delegations. Uzbekistan's apparel, engineered by the domestic brand 7Saber, received mixed reviews from the network's fashion and sports journalists.
The review noted that Uzbekistan’s home jersey features a predominantly white base accented by subtle dark blue pinstripes. The striped collar incorporates the colors of the national flag, while the fabric itself features a mosaic pattern inspired by traditional suzani embroidery and historic Central Asian textile arts.
In explaining why the away kit outranked the primary home uniform, ESPN commentators observed that the embedded suzani patterns and the flag-colored collar details integrated far more harmoniously into the deep blue backdrop than they did on the white base fabric.
Global leaders setting the standard
At the top of the global design table, ESPN journalists named Uruguay's away uniform the most beautiful kit of the upcoming tournament. Manufactured by Nike, the kit features a blend of indigo and deep blue shades, which the reviewers described as exceptionally unique. The design serves as a tribute to the legendary Uruguay squad that won the inaugural World Cup in 1930, utilizing iridescent elements reminiscent of ancient indigenous armor to symbolize the modern team's desire to defend its historic footballing lineage.
Second place was awarded to Japan's away kit, designed by Adidas. The aesthetic draws creative inspiration from retro baseball uniforms. The kit features 11 thin, colorful vertical lines on an off-white background to represent the active players on the pitch, while a central red line symbolizes the broader Japanese football community and supporting public. ESPN noted that the item sold out almost immediately upon its commercial release due to its exceptional concept and execution.
