Overview
- Both teams wore their away kits for the Round of 16 in Seattle on Monday night, with Belgium in a light-blue and pink Magritte-inspired strip and the United States in navy.
- FIFA and match organisers ordered the double switch because both nations’ usual home shirts are predominantly red and would create a hard-to-see colour clash on the pitch.
- A March friendly that used the same Belgium and USA kits produced player complaints about difficulty distinguishing teams and helped prompt the rare decision to force both sides into alternate strips.
- Match-day contrast rules also changed goalkeeper and official colours, with the US keeper in bright yellow, Belgium’s keeper in green, and the referee wearing red to remain distinct from players.
- Broadcasters and tournament officials framed the moves as measures to improve TV clarity and accessibility for viewers, including people with colour-vision issues, and the RBFA said the Belgian jersey intentionally references Magritte with a collar reading “Ceci n'est pas un maillot.”