World Cup
WORLD CUP ATTIRES OF NOTABLE TEAMS LEAKED AHEAD OF OFFICIAL UNVEILING
Twenty three of the expected 32 teams for next year’s World Cup are already confirmed. Next week, the remaining nine will emerge. Traditionally, the World Cup offers country the opportunity to unveil new football kits as the competition is also a platform for major kit manufacturers to showcase their creativity.
Traditionally, the most prominent kit manufacturer, the Germany based Adidas, displays kits of its teams at the World Cup draw, latching on the partnership it has with FIFA. Others, notably Puma, Nike, and Umbro among other s will be having their kitted teams attires unveiled later.
Sports Village Square gathered that the Nigeria’s Super Eagles’ Nike kit for the World Cup will be launched in March 2018. But some other teams’ kits slated for earlier launch have leaked out. One of such is that of Argentina, the team Nigeria will face in a friendly duel in about two weeks time.
According to foot headlines, a publication specialist on kits, the Argentina 2018 World Cup home kit, made by Adidas, has been leaked. The new kit slated for unveiling when the team meet Russia next week Friday in a friendly match, draws inspiration from the 1993 Copa America shirt, worn the last time Argentina won a major title.
As practically always, the Argentina 2018 shirt features white and sky blue stripes. This time around, the base of the Argentina home jersey is mostly white, with three blue stripes on the front and back being the only parts in that colour.
The collar of the Argentina 2018 kit is cut off at the front, inspired by the 1993 shirt which was on the Adidas Equipment line. The Adidas stripes are relegated to the shoulders of the Argentina 2018 home shirt, after they ran down along the sides on the previous design.
Besides the rather old school design, the Argentina 2018 home kit (or at least the authentic version) stands out as one of Adidas’ first football kits to feature the Climachill technology. Black shorts and socks complete the Argentina 2018 World Cup home kit.
Also leaked is that of World Cup holders, Germany. The new kit slated for release this November draws inspiration from the team’s most iconic shirt design of all time. The away set of kits is slated to be unveiled in March.
The home shirt is predominantly white and reinterprets the iconic 1990 top in a modern way. Instead of featuring the colours of the German flag, the graphic design across the upper front of the Germany 2018 home shirt features shades of grey and black those are created using differently sized black lines.
The chest band is also reverted and moved higher up the shirt compared to the 1990 top, with the front numbers appearing cantered just below the shape. The overlap collar of the Germany 2018 World Cup home kit is a direct copy of the one used on the original shirt.
Although the Nike kits of England are expected to be unveiled on March 23 next year when the team faces Netherlands in a friendly match, the attire is already also leaked out.
After 2016’s England national team jerseys were rather simple and not too personalized, the 2018 World Cup England home kit will feature a bespoke graphic print on the front. The England 2018 away jersey will be red and white, with a different print on the front.
The ice blue sleeves of the previous England kit are dropped – we expect them to be simply white or white with a subtle knit pattern. Template-wise, the England 2018 home jersey will be based on the latest iteration of the Nike Vapor template, which brings new and personalized knits and prints on the body and redesigned sleeves to top it off. Those will still have a raglan cut, but no further details beyond that are certain right now.
World Cup
As major global sporting events beckon, Morocco’s monarch launches the Kenitra-Marrakech High-Speed rail project
As Morocco continues to attract global visitors, especially in the sporting segments, infrastructural development is ongoing.
The latest is the Kenitra-Marrakech High-Speed Rail Line (LGV) at Rabat-Agdal train station, paving the way for a new era of ultra-modern rail infrastructure across the country.
The project was launched on Thursday by the monarch, King Mohammed VI. Apart from being a centre of major sporting events, Morocco recently launched a tourism initiative that will make the kingdom the ultimate destination.
The internal transport system is being overhauled. The 430-kilometre project forms part of a $9.6 billion railway development program that will transform the country’s transportation network.
It will be recalled that the 2030 FIFA World Cup is being co-hosted by Morocco along with Spain and Portugal.
It is the first ever transcontinental edition of the World Cup, which also marks the 100th anniversary of the global championship.
According to information from the Moroccan News Agency (MAP), the Kenitra-Marrakech LGV reflects Morocco’s strategic vision for sustainable development, particularly the promotion of low-carbon collective mobility solutions.
“This project demonstrates Morocco’s firm determination to continue developing the national rail network,” said an official statement during the ceremony, noting the railway’s role as “the backbone of a sustainable and inclusive transport system.”
The high-speed line will connect Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakech while serving Rabat and Casablanca airports.
It will drastically reduce travel times, with journeys between Tangier and Rabat taking just one hour, Tangier to Casablanca 1 hour 40 minutes, and Tangier to Marrakech 2 hours 40 minutes — saving over two hours compared to current durations.
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Saudi Arabia would be ready and willing to host a 64-team World Cup in 2034 if FIFA accepts a controversial proposal to expand the tournament from 48, according to the kingdom’s sports minister.
South America’s CONMEBOL has officially suggested staging the centenary 2030 World Cup in Spain, Portugal and Morocco with 64 teams, but the idea has been opposed by some other continental confederations.
Next year’s tournament, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will have 48 countries participating, up from 32 in 2022.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal told a select group of reporters at the Saudi Arabian Formula One Grand Prix in Jeddah that his country would have no objection to an increase in the numbers for 2034.
“We’re ready, or we will be ready, inshallah (God willing). If that’s a decision that FIFA takes and thinks that that’s a good decision for everyone, then we’re more than happy to deliver on it,” he said.
He pointed to the infrastructure already in place for Islamic pilgrims, with four million people attending Mecca for Umrah during Ramadan this year and five million expected for the Hajj.
FIFA expected to confirm Saudi Arabia as 2034 World Cup hosts – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – December 11, 2024 A model of the proposed Roshn Stadium is seen inside the Saudi Arabia World Cup bid exhibition REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo
The global soccer governing body officially announced Saudi Arabia as hosts of the 2034 men’s World Cup in December, a bid that was uncontested but strongly criticised by rights organisations.
The Kingdom has invested heavily in sport over the last few years, but critics accuse it of ‘sportswashing’ its human rights record. The country denies accusations of human rights abuses and says it protects its national security through its laws.
The bid book pledged 15 stadiums, new or refurbished, by 2032 and which are expected to be completed with the help of migrant labour.
Al-Faisal said worker safety was of the highest priority and Saudi organisers were talking regularly with FIFA and 2022 hosts and neighbours Qatar, the first World Cup in the region, to learn from their experience.
He said the death, reported last month, of a worker at the Aramco Stadium construction site in Al Khobar had come after millions of hours without issue.
“Every incident we take seriously, we file an investigation, we look what went wrong,” said the minister. “Unfortunately, in construction, these things happen.”
He said Saudi Arabia was part of the International Labour Organisation and a 2021 Labour Reform Act had abolished the kafala system that binds migrant workers to one employer and prevents them from leaving without the employer’s approval.
Alcohol, prohibited for observant Muslims, is banned in Saudi Arabia and Al-Faisal confirmed the World Cup would be dry.
“The law now here in Saudi is that there’s no alcohol. Will that change in the future? We don’t know. But I don’t see it really affecting our sporting events at all,” he said.
“We’ve had more than 100 international events so far. We’ve had people come from all over the world to attend these sporting events. And everyone’s happy with the hospitality, the setup, the experience that they get.
“I don’t see it as an issue, to be honest. So I hope it’s not going to be an issue”.
Alcohol was not sold at stadiums in Qatar, where drinking in public is illegal, in 2022 but beer was available at designated fan zones and in some hotels.
-Reuters
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A 64-team World Cup in 2030 should not be considered, CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani has said, joining some other confederations in opposing a plan presented by CONMEBOL.
CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez last week officially proposed staging the 2030 World Cup with 64 teams, up from the 48 set to take part in next year’s edition, with the tournament to be hosted largely by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
The opening matches will take place in Uruguay, where the first World Cup was hosted in 1930, along with Argentina and Paraguay.
“I don’t believe expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams is the right move for the tournament itself and the broader football ecosystem, from national teams to club competitions, leagues, and players,” Montagliani told ESPN, opens new tab.
CONCACAF did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The CONMEBOL plan would have a long way to go for approval, with the 48-team 2026 edition already expanded from the 2022 tournament, when 32 countries took part.
The 2026 tournament is set to be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
“We haven’t even kicked off the new 48-team World Cup yet, so personally, I don’t think that expanding to 64 teams should even be on the table,” said Montagliani.
His comments echoed complaints by UEFA boss Aleksander Ceferin, who this month voiced opposition to the idea, and Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, who told AFP, opens new tab he fears expansion would lead to chaos.
-Reuters
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As major global sporting events beckon, Morocco’s monarch launches the Kenitra-Marrakech High-Speed rail project
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