It is often said that a team jersey symbolizes the supporters it represents, their image and their culture.
When a nation wears a jersey, it represents the squad and the message it wants to share with the entire world. Therefore, the jerseys' design, pattern and colorway encompass the team's nation.
In the 2022 World Cup, Adidas will roll out the expectant nations' jerseys and their story and inspiration, whether about historical backgrounds or ongoing societal contexts.
With that, let's wear your thinking cap with Main Stand to find out what inspirations the following seven World Cup 2022 kits' designs take from.
Germany
Hailing from Germany and having a long history with the German national football team, Adidas never missed a chance to supply exclusively-designed kits to the nation.
German history inspires the national team's 2022 World Cup jerseys this year. Back in 2018, the jerseys conjured up memories of the 1990 jerseys, which cruised the team to victory in that year's World Cup.
But Germany's strips in the 2022 World Cup date back much longer, representing a centered large stripe resembling the 1908 jerseys. Beyond that, the colors on the collar and the sides of the jerseys symbolize the nation.
The away kits come in red, inspired by the 2014 World Cup, where Germany clinched the fourth World Cup title, donning jerseys that featured the flag's colors and the letter D, which represents Deutschland as an epitome of their dynamic playing styles.
Spain
Spain's home kits express Spain's unique playing styles, with an eye-catching dark red color and the Spanish flag's color stripes on the collar and the sides.
The inspiration behind their away kits' designs draws from the national team's badge in 1982 when Spain hosted the World Cup.
Argentina
As gender equality is a missing piece in their society, the 2022 World Cup Argentina's shirts play a part in amplifying the movement.
Iconic baby blue and traditional white were never absent from their home kits, and it was maintained.
In Argentina, purple was recently associated with the battle for women's rights and gender equality. Therefore, according to Adidas, the violet change strip in their away kit was inspired by gender equality.
To complement the jersey, the Sun of May on the Argentinian flag inspired the flame-like design to epitomize the pride in their home country.
Japan
Despite their slow performance at the international level, Japan's cultural wealth is instrumental in the Japanese kits' design, as always.
The Samurai Blue's away kits proudly present everyone with their national legacy, origami, which is the art of folding paper.
Interestingly, the anaglyph technique is used in their away strips, revealing the glorious blue and red 3D printed effect with a pattern of origami to express fast-paced and free-flowing playing styles.
The designer compares repetitive paper folding to the Japanese national football team. Japan experienced both setbacks and booms. They failed to reach the final of the 1994 World Cup Qualifiers in Doha and referred to the match as the "Agony of Doha”.
Speaking of Japan's booms, the nation always has qualified for the mega-event. And Japan is set to grace the upcoming 2022 World Cup in the land they once left in great disappointment.
On top of that, the Japan jerseys are worn by the squad against the backdrop of the 2020s big-hit manga characters Blue Lock and Giant Killing to represent the Japan national football team.
Mexico
Mexico has a long-standing history and distinguished culture, which serves as a staple in the Mexican jerseys' design.
Mexico is kitted out in head-turning jerseys, as expected. The home kits are in green with a pattern that pays homage to deep-rooted Mexican culture to offer a nod to the nation.
The beige away jerseys pay tribute to the ancient civilizations rooted in Mexican history, with the continuation of the Mixtec-inspired swirly graphics incorporated into the design to summon the squad's fighting spirit.
The Aztec deity Quetzalcoatl appears on the collar regarding humankind's abilities to encourage the players to beat rivals.
Wales
This is Wales' first outing at FIFA's flagship event since 1958. And their triumphant return to the World Cup stage will be portrayed on their jerseys.
The crimson home strips take inspiration from dragons about their homeland's history which they take pride in. And the V-collar white away kits don't stray too far from the Wales national football team in the old days.
Belgium
The Belgium home kits are predominantly fiery red, adorn with black and yellow detailing, which are the colors of the Belgian flag. Flames running up the arms to represent the devil to match Belgium's moniker, the Red Devils of Europe, as a stratagem to discourage their opponents.
Their away shirts collaborate with the Royal Belgian Football Association, Tomorrowland, and Adidas. They are slightly colored white kits with the word "LOVE" printed on the back of the jersey to represent Tomorrowland, the world's most recognizable EDM music festival.
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