Soccer fans are split over the uniforms the Korea national soccer team will wear at the 2026 North and Central America World Cup.
Sports brand Nike on the 19th officially unveiled the team's new uniforms. The home kit takes its motif from the white tiger, a symbol of Korean soccer, with a traditionally intense red jersey and black shorts.
In particular, it features a camouflage pattern that represents a white tiger's ambush. This is a revival of the tiger stripes for the first time in a while since the 2010 South Africa World Cup.
The away uniform is what divides the market reaction. It replaces the traditional white with violet and inserts a floral pattern across the jersey. The Korea Football Association emblem and the Nike logo add a mint tone.
Nike did not specify exactly which flower the floral pattern depicts, but internet users said its shape is similar to the hibiscus syriacus.
Fans who saw the away kit split between positive reviews calling it "Oriental" and reactions saying it looks like "grandma's elastic pants." Some also raised concerns that the colors are not vivid, which could make the players hard to spot during a match.
The design concept for this uniform began with a tiger's ambush. The manufacturer said it portrays a modern Korea that fearlessly moves forward while rooted in tradition, using a design language that combines traditional cultural heritage with modern streetwear sensibilities.
The away kit visually embodies Korea's unique dynamic energy, inspired by the condensed energy and explosive momentum at the moment a flower blooms. Through the violet color, it aims to express the competitiveness of Korean soccer that has both elegance and strength.
The new uniforms are set for official release on the 23rd. Players are expected to wear them for the first time in a friendly against Ivory Coast on the 28th.