While national team shirts usually receive most of the attention, the color of a team’s socks are an important part of the visual identity of many teams. National teams in the FIFA Women’s World Cup generally wear either white or the same sock color as their shirt, but there are some exceptions. Interestingly enough, black socks are not most commonly worn by any women’s team.
White
White is the most common sock color in the Women’s World Cup, with 14 nations wearing it, more than any other color throughout history. The World Cup is played during the summer months, so teams tend to pick white to avoid getting too hot in the sun. It is also a neutral color that can easily match with other colors. United States, the most successful national team, tends to wear white in their matches.
The countries wearing white most often include:
- United States – 40
- Germany – 34
- England – 26
- New Zealand – 14
Red
Red is the second most common sock color. It is often associated with passion, strength, and national identity. Interestingly enough, studies have shown that teams wearing red are sometimes perceived as more dominant or intimidating. The 1999 runners-up, China, have worn red socks by far more than any other country at the Women’s World Cup.
The countries wearing red most often include:
- China – 30 matches
- Canada – 17
- France – 13
- Denmark – 11
- North Korea – 10
Blue
Eight nations have most commonly worn blue socks at the Women’s World Cup. In fact, two nations that have won the Women’s World Cup, Japan and Norway, have most commonly worn blue socks.
The countries wearing blue most often include:
- Japan – 30
- Norway – 25
- Italy – 13
Yellow
Six nations have most commonly worn yellow socks at the Women’s World Cup.
The countries wearing yellow most often include:
- Sweden – 38 matches
- Australia – 15
Orange
Just two countries have primarily worn orange socks at the Women’s World Cup. Although the Dutch flag today is red, white, and blue, orange remains the country’s sporting color. Orange comes from the royal family that played a central role in the country’s independence.
- Netherlands – 12 matches
Green
Only two countries have worn green shorts most often, Ireland and Nigeria.
The countries wearing green most often include:
- Nigeria – 18 matches
Pink
Scotland is the only women’s national team to wear pink socks most often at the FIFA World Cup.