👟 BOOTS, SHIN PADS & THE KIT
PAGE 1 OF 5 - THE FULL KIT
DRESSED FOR BATTLE
WHAT EVERY PLAYER MUST WEAR
Before a World Cup match kicks off, every outfield player must wear a full kit that follows strict rules. That means a shirt with a number on the back, shorts, socks, football boots, and shin pads hidden underneath those socks. Teams also bring a spare kit in a different colour in case both sides wear similar shades and the referee cannot tell them apart. Goalkeepers wear a different shirt colour so everyone can spot them quickly in a crowded penalty area. Kit is not just about looking smart on television. Every piece of gear has a safety job, from gripping the grass to protecting bones from flying studs.
⚡ DID YOU KNOW?
Players cannot take the pitch without shin pads. If a pad falls out during play, the referee will stop the game and send the player off to fix it before they can return.
GEAR UP!
SHIRT & NUMBER
🔢 Number on the back
👕 Same colour as teammates
👕 Same colour as teammates
SHORTS & SOCKS
🧦 Socks pulled up high
🛡️ Shin pads hidden underneath
🛡️ Shin pads hidden underneath
PAGE 2 OF 5 - FOOTBALL BOOTS
GRIP THE GRASS
STUDS UNDER YOUR FEET
Football boots are not ordinary trainers. The studs on the sole dig into the grass so players can sprint, turn, and tackle without slipping on wet pitches. Firm-ground boots have moulded plastic studs for dry or slightly damp fields, which is what most World Cup matches use. Soft-ground boots have longer, often screw-in metal studs for heavy mud. Wearing the wrong boots is dangerous: flat indoor shoes on a grass pitch offer almost no grip, while long metal studs on a hard dry surface can stick and twist ankles. Professional players often own several pairs and choose based on the weather and pitch condition on match day.
⚡ STUD LENGTH
Referees can check boots before kick-off. Studs must not be dangerously sharp or too long for the surface. A player wearing unsafe boots may be told to change them or leave the pitch.
STUDS!
FIRM GROUND
👟 Moulded plastic studs
☀️ Best on dry grass
☀️ Best on dry grass
SOFT GROUND
🔩 Longer screw-in studs
🌧️ Extra grip in heavy mud
🌧️ Extra grip in heavy mud
WRONG BOOTS
🚫 Flat trainers banned on grass
⚠️ Dangerous studs not allowed
⚠️ Dangerous studs not allowed
PAGE 3 OF 5 - SHIN PADS
UNDER THE SOCKS
🧦 Socks must cover the pads
👀 You should not see them
👀 You should not see them
PROTECT THE SHIN
🦴 Guards the front of the leg
💥 Blocks flying studs and balls
💥 Blocks flying studs and balls
NON-NEGOTIABLE
SHIN PADS ARE MANDATORY
Shin pads are small guards made of plastic, foam, or carbon fibre that strap onto the front of a player's lower leg. They exist because the shin bone sits just under the skin with almost no muscle to cushion a blow. A mistimed tackle, a wild shot, or even a hard pass can slam into the shin at full speed. Pads absorb some of that force and spread the impact across a wider area. The rules say shin pads must be made of suitable material, provide reasonable protection, and be covered entirely by socks. Referees check them in the tunnel or on the pitch before kick-off. No pads means no play, no matter how famous the player is.
⚡ SIZE MATTERS
Shin pads should cover most of the shin from just below the knee to above the ankle. Mini slip-in pads are popular with pros, but they still must meet the protection rules or the referee will send a player back to the dressing room.
SHIELD!
PAGE 4 OF 5 - GOALKEEPER GEAR
THE LAST DEFENDER
WHY KEEPERS LOOK DIFFERENT
Goalkeepers follow special kit rules because their job is completely different from outfield players. They wear a shirt in a contrasting colour so referees and attackers can spot them instantly in a crowded goalmouth. They are the only players allowed to wear goalkeeper gloves, which have padded palms and sticky grip to catch fast shots and crosses. Many keepers also wear padded shorts or trousers to protect hips and knees when diving on hard ground. Their boots still need studs for grip, but the rest of the kit is built for diving, catching, and commanding the penalty area. At World Cup 2026, watch how each keeper's bright jersey stands out against ten outfield players in team colours.
⚡ COLOUR CLASH
A goalkeeper's shirt must be a different colour from both teams, both keepers, and the referee crew. That is why you often see keepers in neon green, orange, or pink even when neither team wears those colours.
SAVE IT!
DIFFERENT SHIRT
🎨 Contrasting colour required
👁️ Easy to spot in the box
👁️ Easy to spot in the box
GOALKEEPER GLOVES
🧤 Padded palms for catching
🤚 Only keepers may wear them
🤚 Only keepers may wear them
PADDED KIT
🩹 Extra padding on hips
🤸 Built for diving saves
🤸 Built for diving saves
PAGE 5 OF 5 - BANNED KIT AND RECAP
WHAT IS BANNED
DANGEROUS GEAR STAYS OFF THE PITCH
Football kit rules also list what players must not wear. Jewellery like necklaces, rings, and earrings are banned because they can snag on shirts or cut other players during a tackle. Watches, fitness trackers, and hard headbands are not allowed either. Even medical equipment must be safe: a plaster is fine, but a sharp pin or bulky cast is not. Studs cannot be dangerously sharp, and players cannot tape ordinary objects to their bodies as homemade protection. Referees inspect kit in the tunnel before the teams walk out. If something is unsafe, the player must remove it or change gear before the match can start. Safety rules apply to every World Cup star exactly the same as a youth player.
⚡ CAPTAIN'S ARMBAND
The team captain wears a special armband so the referee can identify who speaks for the team. It must be a proper fabric armband, not a random piece of tape, and only one player wears it at a time.
SAFE!
KIT CHECK
🔍 Ref checks boots and pads
🚪 Happens in the tunnel
🚪 Happens in the tunnel
REMEMBER
📋 KEY FACTS
Every outfield player needs a shirt, shorts, socks, boots, and shin pads under the socks. Studded boots match the pitch surface. Goalkeepers wear a different shirt colour and special gloves. Jewellery and dangerous gear are banned. Referees check kit before kick-off.
👟 Studs for grip
🛡️ Shin pads mandatory
🧤 Keepers dress differently
🛡️ Shin pads mandatory
🧤 Keepers dress differently
🧠 QUIZ TIME!
BOOTS, SHIN PADS & THE KIT · 5 QUESTIONS
QUESTION 01
What must every outfield player wear on their lower legs?
QUESTION 02
Why do football boots have studs on the sole?
QUESTION 03
Why do goalkeepers wear a different shirt colour?
QUESTION 04
Which of these is banned on the pitch?
QUESTION 05
Who is allowed to wear goalkeeper gloves during a match?
0/5
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