Radical new England kit for 2026 World Cup ‘leaked’ ahead of tournament
Look good, play good.
That might very well be the mantra from England going into this year’s World Cup as their eye-catching warm-up kit was leaked.
The shirt, first revealed by Footy Headlines, is a collaboration between Nike, England’s sponsors since 2013, and Palace, a London-based skateboard brand.
It is predominantly grey and features a stunning stained glass design.
In the middle of the shirt is a saint.
The iconography of a saint could be a nod to Saint George, the patron saint of England.
Saint George’s potential inclusion on England’s warm-up kit comes after the Three Lions’ previous set of strips featured a slightly altered St George’s cross.
The cross, which is traditionally coloured red, was tweaked to include purple and blue stripes and featured on the back of the collar.
Nike’s bold re-design of the St George’s Cross sparked major outrage and even prompted former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to weigh in.
The sportswear giant later released a statement claiming the design was with the intention of honouring the 1966 World Cup heroes.
“We have been a proud partner of the FA since 2012 and understand the significance and importance of the St George’s Cross and it was never our intention to offend, given what it means to England fans,” a statement read.
“Together with the FA, the intention was to celebrate the heroes of 1966 and their achievements.
“The trim on the cuffs takes its cues from the training gear worn by England’s 1966 heroes, with a gradient of blues and reds topped with purple.
“The same colours also feature an interpretation of the flag on the back of the collar.”
What else will England wear at the 2026 World Cup?
Leaks of England’s bold pre-match shirt follows images of their new home and away kits being revealed ahead of time.
For the home kit, England have stuck to tradition and will wear a white shirt with white shorts and socks.
A Three Lions design is also embedded into the fabric while, for the first time in 13 years, there will be a gold star above the England crest.
The star represents England’s sole World Cup triumph but had been white or silver on previous Nike kits.
As for the away strip, England will don a striking red design which features a centralised badge.
It will be the first time England have sported a central badge on the away kit since 2008, when they were sponsored by Umbro.
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