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The 2026 FIFA World Cup is regarded as one of the biggest events in sport, which has provided the platform for some of the best national teams and players to showcase their talents on the grandest stage possible.
Over the years, the tournament has also created the stage for kit manufacturers to conjure up some memorable designs that have gone down in World Cup history.
The likes of Brazil, Argentina and England are among the nations that have worn stunning kits that have gone down in World Cup folklore.
Here, Football Ground Guide ranks the best kits that have been worn in the illustrious history of the FIFA World Cup.
10. Mexico – 1998
As will be made clear from this list, the 90s were a great era for eye-catching World Cup jerseys. Mexico's offering at the 1998 tournament contained Aztec-style designs on a green background made by the now-defunct manufacturer ABA Sports.
9. Nigeria – 2018
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The most recent design on our list comes from the 2018 tournament in Russia, where Nigeria wore a Nike kit that generated an incredible demand from fans.
The kit featured green and white chevrons through the centre of the shirt and black and white chevrons on the sleeves. Unfortunately for Nigeria, there aren't many chances to showcase their kit at the tournament as they suffered a disappointing group stage exit.
8. Italy – 1994
Arrigo Sacchi's Italy wore an iconic jersey at the 1994 tournament in the USA. The country's relatively new badge, which had been created in 1992, was woven into the shirt, while green-white-and-red triangles featured on the trim.
Diadora were the master behind the kit, although it was hard to tell because the manufacturer's name did not feature on the outside of the shirt, which was a common theme with the national team at the time.
Roberto Baggio, with his iconic ponytail, was among the Italian stars who wore the jersey that ultimately became associated with heartbreak. Baggio's penalty miss in the shootout against Brazil in the final ensured the jersey would only evoke painful memories.
7. USA – 1994
Staying in the 1994 tournament, the USA produced something special to mark their first time as World Cup hosts. The USA donned a patriotic jersey covered in stars that had a blue denim-like design.
The homage to the country's flag was supposed to be the away kit, but the hosts wore it in every game to cement its place in World Cup history.
6. England – 1990
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One of England's most memorable World Cup performances coincided with one of the country's best kits in World Cup history. While the design was fairly simple, England's home kit at Italia 90 was still a thing of beauty. The combined V-neck and collar neckline, combined with the Umbro pattern on each sleeve, made it a classic.
England wore the jersey in all seven games in the 1990 tournament, including the gutting penalty shootout defeat to West Germany in the semi-finals.
5. France – 1998
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In contrast to England at Italia 90, there was a lot going on with France's 1998 kit. The shirt was a remake of France's triumphant 1984 European Championship campaign on home soil. It ultimately proved to be a lucky design, as the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry featured in a French side that achieved World Cup glory in their home tournament.
4. Croatia – 1998
Sticking with France 98, Croatia marked their first World Cup appearance as an independent nation with an unforgettable shirt. The Lotto-made jersey used red checks in a unique pattern that went from one sleeve to just past the country's badge. The shirt, which also included red, white and blue trims, was worn by iconic names like Roberto Prosinecki and Davor Suker.
3. Brazil – 1994
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Brazil ended their 24-year wait for their fourth World Cup in the 1994 tournament. The Selecao achieved the feat while wearing a stylish kit that was created by Umbro. The logo of the Brazilian federation featured three times on the jersey, which included a neat green and yellow collar and a simple green trim.
2. Argentina – 1986
A simple, yet iconic shirt made special by the magician who wore it. Diego Maradona's otherworldly talent was on display in the 1986 tournament, where he scored five goals to fire Argentina to their second World Cup.
Le Coq Sportif were the manufacturer of the jersey that contained Argentina's usual light blue and white stripes, a design that oozes nostalgia from a bygone era of minimalist football shirts.
1. West Germany – 1990
West Germany won the 1990 World Cup wearing an all-time classic shirt created by Adidas. The traditional white base provided the canvas for a black, red and gold zigzag that represented the German flag. The design was worn by legendary names such as Lothar Matthäus, Andreas Brehme and Rudi Voller.
The long-lasting impact of the zigzag design is clear to see in Germany's 2026 shirt, which has clearly taken inspiration from the 1990 kit, as well as the 2014 World Cup-winning jersey.
The country's green away shirt in 1990 also caught the eye, making them a strong contender to be the most stylish winners of the FIFA World Cup.
Where can I buy vintage World Cup shirts?
Many years have passed since the majority of the aforementioned shirts were first worn, so it will be nearly impossible to get your hands on a new version, unless it is a reissue like Score Draw‘s version of England's Italia 90 shirt.
Depending on available stock, Classic Football Shirts and Cult Kits may be the best place to look for vintage shirts like Italy's 1994 offering or West Germany's memorable design from 1990.
As ever, make sure to research reviews and other key details related to websites that you may be unsure about when shopping for vintage jerseys.