With focus firmly on the women’s game, Nike has unveiled its federation football kits for 2023, set to be in use at this summer’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Backed by Nike’s largest ever investment in women-specific research, Nike designers developed new performance designs for the summer’s biggest sport moment — all tuned to the unique needs of today’s powerful female footballer.
Nike has always been a strong advocate of female athletes, and this has always been notable through the brand’s support of women’s football. Now that supports moves up a notch, with the release of the 2023 Federation Kits. Following athlete feedback, Nike is offering athletes the new Nike Leak Protection: Period innovation integrated into the Pro short they know and love. “We are thrilled to offer this new innovation to all athletes playing for Nike-sponsored federations this summer,” says Jordana Katcher, VP Women’s Global Sport Apparel. “Professional footballers play two 45-minute halves without breaks or time-outs. Many told us they can spend several minutes on-pitch concerned that they may experience leakage from their period. When we showed them this innovation, they told us how grateful they were to have this short to help provide confidence when they can’t leave the pitch.”
As well as this female-focused orientation, the new kits will also see the debut of Nike’s latest material innovations in Nike DRI-FIT ADV technology — Nike’s latest advanced-performance material innovation engineered for the body in motion. While creating the material for the new kits, Nike designers prioritised mobility, breathability and sustainability. They leveraged the latest advanced body-mapping technology, 4D data and state-of-the-art digital design tools to tune the material pixel by pixel, providing reinforcement, mobility, breathability and venting exactly where it’s needed most.
The jersey and short are made of 100 percent recycled polyester from recycled plastic bottles, and the uniforms’ federation crests, Swooshes and trims are made of 100 percent Nike Grind — and for the first time in a Nike kit on this stage.
This year, Nike boasts more women’s football federations qualified for this summer’s tournament than any other brand, and they’ve worked closely with each federation to thoughtfully design its respective new National Team Collection, inclusive of kits and lifestyle apparel, in celebration of each federation’s rich culture. Inspired by each country’s distinct identities and diverse communities, the redesigned National Team Collections incorporate cultural and historical elements to boldly represent each country on and off the pitch.
AUSTRALIA
Australia’s National Team Collection celebrates its diverse country and community and is an invitation to all Australians to join in and embrace this once-in-a-lifetime moment and iconic team. The typography for both kits is a new and custom look, reflecting a modern twist on their traditional numbers. The home kit features a created-by-hand acrylic pour and marbling pattern, illustrating Australia’s diverse country and culture as well as the transformation and dedication of the national team over time. The turquoise away kit looks to the future and represents a nation that is vibrant, energetic, and forward-thinking.
BRAZIL
Inspired by the Amazon, the Brazil National Team Collection weaves together a distinct look through a tropical foliage pattern. The yellow home kit highlights the beautiful Amazon ecosystem through the pattern’s knit textures. The blue away kit plays into the landscape’s deep, bright jungle colours. The away kit carries through a variation of the tropical foliage pattern, this time appearing on the sleeves.
CANADA
The Canada National Team Collection focuses on the country’s traditional red and white. The red and black home kit features a bold evolution of their iconic geometric maple leaf design, while the away kit highlights their traditional red and white look.
CHINA
China’s National Team Collection shines a spotlight on China’s traditional colours of red and yellow, a combination deeply rooted in China’s identity and culture. The home kit is inspired by the iconic xiangyun symbol, a traditional Chinese stylised cloud associated with good luck and good fortune. The away kit features a bright yellow hue, the second of their traditional colours.
ENGLAND
The England National Team Collection is inspired by the Art Deco movement and design of the legendary Wembley Stadium, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The home kit features an off-white colour scheme modelled after the original Wembley’s chalky white brick exterior in 1923. The colours also pay homage to the 1984 England women’s team, the country’s first women’s team assembled for a major tournament. The away kit brings in the first expression of blue in the team’s history. The pattern of the top is a geometric form also nodding to the Art Deco movement.
FRANCE
Evoking the country’s rich history of women’s football, France’s National Team Collection is inspired by Orphism, an art movement popularised in the 1920s, when the first French women’s football teams were taking the field. The home kit features light blue and lilac hues, resembling the kits of those 1920s teams. The white away kit features a bespoke, hand-painted pattern cut into hexagon shapes, reminiscent of Orphism art.
SOUTH KOREA
The Korea National Team Collection is inspired by the country’s youth culture and globally renowned fashion style. The red home kit juxtaposes Korea’s traditional colours with a vibrant new pink. Funky blocking on the side panels creates a distinctive look reflecting the youthful spirit of the country and the team. The white away kit features colour blocking inspired by the Korean fashion scene. The split side panels point to traditional ideas of balance and opposites on the Korean flag.
THE NETHERLANDS
The Netherlands National Team Collection is grounded in two identities: the red, blue and white colours of the country’s flag, and the bright orange that is their iconic national colour. The orange home kit includes a two-colour contrast rooted in Dutch football culture. The away kit spotlights the colours of the flag, sporting blue as their primary color. Nike designers took the lioness, the Dutch women’s national team crest, and combined its shape with geometric modern patterns.
NEW ZEALAND
The New Zealand National Team Collection showcases the country’s unique and iconic culture and landscapes. The home kit pays homage to its landscapes through a new look for a much-loved pattern that captures a longtime symbol of New Zealand’s national identity — the Silver Fern. To create the distinct allover pattern, Nike designers used black and silver spray paint techniques. The away kit, which features a bright futuristic blue, is inspired by the 1991 qualifying squad, a memory made even more special as the country co-hosts the game’s biggest stage for the first time.
NIGERIA
The Nigeria National Team Collection draws from the distinctiveness of the country’s local prints and patterns. These traditional designs are blended with current styles from the fashion scene of the capital city of Abuja. In an electric green color scheme, the home kits features a bespoke pattern on the cuffs and sock ribbing inspired by traditional Nigerian artwork and textiles. The forest green away kits combines modern shapes with traditional prints; the up-close details on the graphic pattern pay homage to the team’s “Super Falcons” name.
NORWAY
The Norway National Team Collection features bold colour-blocking combinations, allowing the team to mix and match the colours of its national flag in a prominent way. Both kits are accented by the Norwegian Football Federation crest.
PORTUGAL
The Portugal National Team Collection nods to modern art and fashion as well as the country’s maritime roots and traditional craftsmanship to proudly represent Portuguese heritage. The red home kit, drawn from the country’s flag, is deeply rooted in national pride. The away kit features a vibrant colour scheme and bespoke pattern inspired by the country’s famous calçada Portuguesa designs.
USA
The USA National Team Collection is inspired by the art movement of abstract expressionism, which started in the 1940s in New York City as the art epicenter began to shift from Europe to the U.S. — similar to what the USA team has done for women’s football. The home kit is print-based and marks only the second time in the past 11 years that the team has worn a print at home. Done in the action-painting method of abstract expressionism, the home kit features a distinct drip-paint technique pattern, highlighting the energy of the women’s national team — though different, they are united. The blue away kit includes sleeve cuffs that feature a bespoke stars and stripes graphic print. The neckline of the top also features red blades, formed to look like the tips of stars.
The Nike 2023 Federation kit collections will be released for retail in June.
