Nike unveils new Socceroos kit ahead of Qatar World Cup

Football Australia

Ahead of a momentous 12 months of football for Australian football, Nike and Football Australia have revealed the 2022 Australian Men’s National Football Team Kit.

Honouring 100 years of the Socceroos, the new kit celebrates the past while looking to the future of football – launching with Australia on the cusp of a historic fifth consecutive appearance on the world stage.

Innovation is at the forefront of the design which features Nike’s pinnacle apparel material platform Dri-Fit ADV. Heat mapping technology allows the athlete to stay cool while the new seamless fit allows for increased mobility without cling for a soft and airy feel.

The new National Men’s Team Home Kit is inspired by the fearless determination and fighting spirit of the Socceroos and the rugged Australian landscape. The design nods to the iconic Golden Wattle flower and the traditional colours of the national side, using colours of ‘University Gold’ and ‘Tour Yellow’ to capture the adventurous nature of Australians and the physical beauty of the land. The green shorts use the colour ‘Green Noise’ with a clear connection to nature, conjuring the rugged, sandy landscape of the outback and the rich wetlands and forests. The kit is completed with iconic white socks.

In contrast, the bold obsidian away kit draws inspiration from the vivid sea, with splashes of green glow to help Aussies show their pride both on and off the pitch. It is representative of the creatures, plants, and reeds found in the waters signaling the deep connection between Australians and coastal life.

Socceroos striker Jamie Maclaren said in a statement:

“A new kit ahead of a big moment for the team is always a special thing and this time is no different. I love how this new kit is uniquely Australian, drawing on our heritage while also looking to the future.

“We all know the history of those who wore the green and gold before us, but as a group our story is never done, and we are looking forward to making our country proud as we take on some of the biggest names in world football.”

Dynamic midfielder Awer Mabil added via press release:

“It is always a proud moment to pull on the national team kit to represent my country and as a team we can’t wait to showcase it during our next big game.

“Having played most of our recent matches away from home soil, this kit unites us both on and off the pitch with all Australians – it embodies the determination of this group, and Aussies around the world.”

As part of Nike’s wider Move to Zero journey, sustainability continues to be at the core of the 2022 Australian National Men’s Team Jerseys. The Australian jerseys are made with 100% recycled polyester which is constructed from recycled bottles.

Nike Pacific Vice President and General Manager, Ashley Reade, said in a statement:

“Nike is incredibly proud to launch the new National Men’s Team Kit for the Socceroos. The fighting spirit and unwavering optimism of the Socceroos right through to the final seconds of qualification has been an amazing source of inspiration for Nike and for all Australians.

“Through the design we wanted to honour the heritage of Australian football while celebrating the spirit and unlimited energy of the Socceroos.”

Football Australia Chief Executive Officer, James Johnson, believes 2022 can be the start of a new era for Australian football.

“2022 is the centenary year for the Socceroos, we’re excited to have a team and a kit that embodies the fearless determination this current team has shown over the past three years, while reflecting the history of the iconic teams that have come before them.” Johnson said via press release.

“We know how significant the next year will be for football in Australia, and this team is looking forward to inspiring the next generation as they step onto the world stage. We love how this bold kit outwardly displays the proud and defiant spirit of our national team.”

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Football Australia Expands Mental Skills Program for Match Officials Amid Sustained Focus on Referee Retention

Football Australia has confirmed a second national webinar for match officials, led by sports psychologist Dr Liam Slack, extending a referee development series introduced after strong engagement with an initial session on managing match-day pressure.

The upcoming session, themed “parking with purpose,” will focus on decision-making strategies designed to help referees process on-field calls and reset attention quickly across a match that can present hundreds of individual decisions. Dr Slack, who also consults with The Football Association and the AFC Referee Academy and previously spent over a decade as a performance psychologist with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited in England, brings substantial elite-level experience to a program open to officials at every level, from grassroots to professional.

The theme builds on work Dr Slack has already delivered within Australian officiating. He recently led a session with Football Australia’s National Referee Academy on the same concept, framing the ability to consciously park a decision and refocus on the next phase of play as a trainable skill rather than an innate trait, one that separates officials who reset quickly under pressure from those who don’t. He has also addressed more than 100 Football Australia elite match officials and staff on developing a stronger match-day mentality, an indication of how embedded this psychological framework has become across the officiating pathway rather than remaining a one-off intervention.

The expansion of the webinar series reflects a broader shift in how football administrators are approaching referee attrition. Rather than treating retention purely as a recruitment or pay problem, the program signals an institutional acknowledgment that the psychological demands of officiating, particularly the compounding pressure of split-second decisions under public scrutiny, are a material factor in whether officials remain in the game.

It rests alongside other measures adopted across Australian football in recent years, including visible identification programs for junior referees and structural reviews of referee departments at state federation level, all aimed at the same underlying issue: a shrinking pool of match officials relative to demand.

Football Australia has not detailed metrics for assessing the program’s impact on referee numbers, though the recurring engagement of an internationally credentialed specialist across multiple tiers of the officiating pathway suggests sustained institutional investment in the approach.

Football Victoria elevates fan enjoyment with Streets partnership

Football Victoria (FV) revealed last week a new partnership with ice cream giants, Streets. The brand will become an exclusive ice cream partner for the next three years.

 

An iconic brand for joyful experiences

As a well-known and popular ice cream brand with people all around the nation, Streets will now look to support the fan experience in Victoria through its products.

It reflects FV’s commitment to delivering a family-friendly and memorable experience for spectators. Both on and off the pitch, the organisation is striving to elevate the experience for fans and families alike.

“Football Victoria is always looking for ways to elevate the experience at The Home of The Matildas, and this partnership does exactly that,” explained FV Executive Manager of Commercial and Facilities, Chris Speldewinde.

“It’s a fantastic fit for our community and we’re looking forward to what the next three years will bring.”

Furthermore, Senior Brand Manager at Streets, Ryan Katz, emphasised the brand’s role in community sport and in creating memories beyond the action on the pitch.

“Streets is proud to join Football Victoria as its exclusive ice cream partner,” Katz said.

“There’s nothing better than enjoying a great game with a classic ice cream in-hand, and we’re excited to be part of those moments across the state.”

 

Understanding community football

Community football is all about these moments. Sunny days, the family together, and a sweet treat in-hand while supporting a local team alongside friends and neighbours.

This is why a partnership between FV and Streets is particularly important.

Not for its commercial value, but for what it tells us about both parties’ understanding of what matters to fans. From young fans to experienced matchday-goers, everyone wants to find enjoyment while watching the game.

And while the 90 minutes of action is the focus, the experience of a local matchday is truly defined by interactions with fellow supporters and smaller – but no less significant – moments of happiness during the day.

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