Matildas unveils new kit for Australia’s 2023 Women’s World Cup – and a feature divides fans
With just over 100 days until the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the Matildas have released their highly anticipated jerseys – and while fans are drooling over the home jersey, the away kit has divided fans.
Like Sam Kerr and co. Football Australia gathered at a camp in the UK to prepare for some friendlies against Scotland and world No. 4 England, revealing what the Matildas will be wearing in July and August.
It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play one of the world’s biggest sporting events at home, and Nike have redesigned the home and away kits to ensure Australia looks fresh on the biggest stage.
The home kit pays homage to the long history of Australian football with signature gold colors and bottle green sleeve, side and neck details.
Eagle-eyed will notice the details on the shirt, with a hand-crafted acrylic molding and marble pattern illustrating Australia’s diverse land and community, and the way the Matildas have changed over time.
Matildas skipper Sam Kerr in the green and gold jersey the women will wear in a once-in-a-lifetime World Cup at home. The kit features a marble pattern that illustrates Australia’s diverse country and community
Modeled by Arsenal star Steph Catley, the away shirt has proven to be divisive among fans thanks to its ultra-modern design with very bright colors
Matildas star Ellie Carpenter has just recovered from a devastating ACL injury she suffered while winning the Champions League final with Olympique Lyonnais in 2022
Fans are losing it over the return to green shorts and white socks, and superstar defender Ellie Carpenter said it was a proud moment for any Matilda to wear the iconic combo.
‘She [Nike] really represent us by listening to us, what our beliefs are, what we care about and they put that into the kit design process,” she said of Nike’s jersey design.
“We are very grateful that they listened to us and gave us a voice to show what is important and what we believe in.
“I am very grateful to be able to wear this kit during this upcoming tournament. To put on that green and gold jersey for Australia, it is very exciting and an honor I will never take for granted.”
In brilliant news for the female players, the manufacturer has taken into account a ‘taboo’ subject often ignored by the male-focused sportswear industry: menstruation.
The shorts have new puncture protection that consists of a combination of a laminate gusset, liner and short construction that create a unique solution to absorb, drain and retain blood when women are at that time of the month.
A handmade acrylic molding and marble pattern on the home shirt illustrates Australia’s diverse country and community, and the way the Matildas have changed over time
Modeled by veteran midfielder Emily Van Egmond, the Nike shorts feature high-tech puncture protection for when players are on their period, giving valuable peace of mind
The effect of getting your period is often mocked by male fans or completely ignored by executives, and Nike’s senior women’s designer said that needs to change.
“We know for the first 45 minutes [of a match] they can’t leave the field and for the first nine minutes they think averagely about the potential of leaks [if they’re on their period]or if they’re about to or if they already are,” said designer Charlotte Harris.
“That’s a huge chunk of the time they can be distracted, so we knew this was something we had to innovate against to help our female athletes perform so we can remove that distraction and keep them focused.”
The uniform is also climate-conscious from head to toe.
The shirt and shorts are made of at least 80 percent recycled polyester made from recycled plastic bottles.
The logos and iconic Nike Swooshes are made entirely from a Nike program that transforms production scraps and discarded shoes.
The jersey’s decal comes from a Nike program that transforms manufacturing scraps and discarded footwear.
There is an almost universal love for the home kit among Aussie fans, but the state of the art away kit proves to be very divided.
It’s an away kit like we’ve never seen before.
The jersey is a bright aqua hue and is punctuated by pale yellow piping and a blue side panel.
The shorts are in the same shade of aqua/cyan with a darker blue side panel and finished with the light socks.
It is said to be inspired by Australia’s vibrant sea, with the rich trio of colors representing the country’s natural wonders.
Essentially, it’s supposed to inspire the next generation of young Sam Kerr’s with its bright and bold design, and while fans aren’t convinced, it looks like dynamic defender Hayley Raso is a big fan.
The main away shirt color is aqua, a nod to the vibrant seas around Australia, while the pale yellow and blue details pay homage to the country’s natural wonders
Manchester City star Hayley Raso says she and Matilda’s teammates are fans of the bright new colors in their jerseys
“I absolutely loved the new kit when I first saw it, I think it represents the team perfectly with its bold and bright design that suits all the personalities we have on the team,” she said.
“The kit definitely makes a statement and I’m so excited to wear it.
“Wearing the national team jersey fills me with so much pride. There is no greater honor than to walk into a packed stadium, sing the national anthem and represent Australia on the world stage.’
While there were some fans of the more modern design, other supporters were unimpressed by the major change from Australia’s typical away colours.
“Holy moly that away kit is dazzling, and not in a good way,” one fan wrote, while another said it “looks like a school First XI kit they had a 10th year student design.”
Legendary football commentator Simon Hill was, like many, a big fan of the home kit but was unconvinced by the bright away kit, and sportswriter Ben McKay agreed that it was not his favorite color combination.
The away shirt features yellow piping and blue panels to break up the bright Aqua design
“Luckily this is a home World Cup so you don’t have to wear that hideous away strip, okay?” he wrote on social media.
A more supportive fan said the uniforms should be filed under “kits going hard,” which was backed up by a young supporter simply commenting on the away game with a series of drooling emojis.
Either way, the Matildas will be flying the green and gold flag in just over 100 days, and Nike’s Pacific Vice President Ashley Reade said an entire nation was ready to rally behind one of Australia’s most popular teams. of both sexes.
The Matildas are more than a team. They are a movement and this kit will be proudly worn by Australians to support and celebrate the athletes, the team and this incredible moment in sporting history.”