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Northern Ireland's World Cup of Kits 2022 - Group A & B

By jcd

Through November and December 2022, to coincide with the FIFA World Cup, NIFG will be running polls to definitively select Northern Ireland’s greatest ever kits.

Starting with a daily group stage, the best kit from each group will proceed to the knock-out rounds, with the final two facing off and the ultimate winner to be crowned on the day of the World Cup Final.

Kits are being judged in their default format, with minor variations ignored. Voters can use whatever criteria they wish to identify their greatest - whether that is style, a favoured match, or a childhood memory.

[unless otherwise stated, stats are based on senior men’s matches and are based on “best guesses”*]

To vote, please visit and follow on Twitter. Group polls will be open for two days, with a new one unveiled every other day.

Group A

Group B

1986 Away

Part of the new set of kits released for the 1986 World Cup Finals. White proved popular in the Mexican heat, as it was used in two of the three games (paired with the home white shorts against Spain). Although it remained in the hamper for another four years, outings were limited to a random airing in Yugoslavia and a trip to Dublin.

Adidas

(1986-1990)

Debut:

03-06-1986 vs Algeria, D 1-1 (N)

(Mexico ’86 World Cup Finals)

Pl: 4

W: 0

D: 1

L: 3

1957 Home

This is the kit that saw Northern Ireland qualify for their first World Cup in 1958. It was a slight evolution on the previous shirt, featuring the modern Irish FA crest for the first time. Towards the end of its life-cycle, the shirt saw the international debut of George Best.

A white away version of this kit was available, but never used by the senior team. Kits were sourced by the Athletic Stores, usually from Bukta and sometimes Umbro.

Bukta/Umbro

(span)

Debut:

05-10-1957 vs Scotland, D 1-1 (H)

(British Home International)

Pl: 42

W: 12

D: 8

L: 22

1994 Home

Asics were making their mark on British football in the mid-90s, securing high-profile deals with the likes of Newcastle and Blackburn. After Umbro’s heavily stylised efforts of the early-90s, the simplicity of this baggy kit was a welcome relief for the eyes.

Asics

(1994-1996)

Debut:

07-09-1994 vs Portugal, L 1-2 (H)

(Euro 96 Qualifier)

Pl: 11

W: 4

D: 1

L: 6

1990 Away

Although this kit was never worn in a senior international, its release caused perhaps an even bigger stir than the home version. The bold pattern was certainly a reflection of the wider 90s kit enlightenment, while blue returned as the dominant colour for the first time in 60 years. It did make it on to the field during a senior international when worn by the coaches and physios during the 1994 US tour.

Umbro

(1990-1992)

Debut:

n/a

Pl: 0

W: 0

D: 0

L: 0

1892 Home

Kits in the 1890s began to look quite formal, with button up winged collars. The life-spans of kits were also impressive, with this jersey seeing around 20 years’ service, with only the socks showing any significant variation. It was in this kit that Ireland won their first International Championship, but it was “retired” straight after due to the outbreak of the First World War.

Manufacturer

(1892-1914)

Debut:

27-02-1892 vs Wales, A D 1-1

(British Home International)

Pl: 62*

W: 13

D: 9

L: 40

1994 Away

1994 saw the return of white as Northern Ireland’s preferred alternative colour, and this clean and simple Asics template was a reverse of the home, complete with blue collar inset. Perhaps most fondly remembered for a 1995 morale boosting draw in Dublin after a humiliating defeat a few months earlier in Belfast.

Asics

(1994-1996)

Debut:

29-03-1995 vs Rep. of Ireland D 1-1 (A)

(Euro 96 Qualifier)

Pl: 2

W: 0

D: 1

L: 1

2012 Home

The return of Adidas as kit supplier in 2012 was met with some excitement. While the 22 years since they had last supplied the IFA had seen the bold "Equipment" era, the German’s went quite safe with this retro-inspired effort. Results were generally poor, with a win over Russia the only real highlight.

Adidas

(2012-2013)

Debut:

15-08-2012 vs Finland D 3-3 (H)

(Friendly International)

Pl: 8

W: 1

D: 4

L: 3

2002 Away

When Spain visited Belfast 20 years on from “that” night in Valencia, the Irish FA thought it would be a good opportunity to unveil their new white kit – sadly the result was a bit less favourable, with the Spanish running out 5-0 winners. The shiny material was perhaps the most remarkable feature of this otherwise plain kit.

Patrick

(2002-2004)

Debut:

17-04-2002 vs Spain, L 0-5 (H)

(Friendly International)

Pl: 7

W: 2

D: 0

L: 5

Results:

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