A football kit is more than just a piece of clothing worn on the field. It not only strengthens a team’s identity but also represents a nation on the world stage.
The France away kit for the 2026 FIFA World Cup sends a strong message about the historic ties between the country and the United States, one of the three host countries of the tournament.
When French historian Edouard de Laboulaye, an ardent admirer of American democracy, proposed a gift to the United States in 1865, few could have imagined that it would be the Statue of Liberty, one of the most recognizable monuments in the world.
For the 2026 away kit, Nike moved away from France’s traditional white-dominated designs and took inspiration from that historic gift. The result is a light teal sweater named ‘Liberté’, the color of which is inspired by the iconic oxidized copper appearance of the Statue of Liberty.
The finer detail is in the top. Finished in metallic copper, it reflects the original color of the statue when France presented it to the United States in 1885. The monument was dismantled, packed into 214 wooden boxes and shipped across the Atlantic Ocean before being assembled in New York. The tricolor cover pays tribute to the colors of the French flag.
Once a passionate admirer of the American Constitution, Laboulaye is now remembered as the father of the Statue of Liberty. More than 160 years after he first proposed the idea, his vision has inspired the design of the France away kit for one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
As France prepares for a World Cup in North America, a piece of shared history between the two countries is woven into the shirt that will represent Les Bleus on football’s biggest stage.
Published on June 8, 2026
