Sports
The real reason England national team wear white
As the international break comes to an end, England fans are gearing up for the final stretch of the football season with their clubs. However, many are still unaware of the reason why England wear white, despite it being the country’s signature color for football kits.
The white strip has been a fixture of England’s footballing history, from Bobby Moore’s World Cup triumph in 1966 to Harry Kane’s recent record-breaking feat. But the origins of the color choice date back to the first-ever international football match between England and Scotland in 1872.
Both teams needed kits to play in, with Scotland opting for the navy blue that they still don to this day. The team was made up of 11 Queen’s Park players who wore their club kits, making the choice of color an obvious one. England, on the other hand, needed a different color.
According to the Daily Star, the FA provided the England team with white strips, which may have been spare cricket kits. However, it wasn’t a permanent decision, as players often sewed an England badge onto their club shirts and played in various colors.
After a period of inconsistency, calls for a uniform look were made. The national side adopted the white shirt, navy shorts, and white socks combination, which remains to this day. While there have been periods where the team has worn white shorts, the white and navy look is the preferred choice and is unlikely to change anytime soon.
Despite being a staple of England’s footballing heritage, many fans were unaware of the reason why white became the team’s signature color. As the national side gears up for their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, the white strip will continue to be a symbol of England’s footballing history and tradition.