Sports
Rating Adidas’ 2026 World Cup away shirts: Argentina, Spain, Mexico and more
Adidas has gone ahead and released a swathe of international away kits, many of which will be gracing the grandest stage of all when the 2026 World Cup kicks off in a few months’ time.
The headline is that the classic trefoil logo is back with Adidas’ much-loved three-pronged emblem now set to appear on shirts at a World Cup for the first time in 36 years, since the likes of France, Argentina and champions Germany all wore it with a flourish.
The same retro essence runs through this latest batch of World Cup attire, with Adidas continuing the stylish run of form it has cultivated by applying its trefoil to a number of club kits in recent years, including a series of beautiful third jerseys for Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Arsenal (among others) that were released for the 2025-26 season.
As many of football’s fashionistas have noted, adding the trefoil to a shirt is basically tantamount to a cheat code for Adidas, which seemingly can’t fail when it comes to honing these retro-infused beauties, all of which hark back to the heady days of the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s.
So, let’s get to it.
Here we take a closer look at the 25 away kits released Friday. We have sorted by nations who have already qualified for the World Cup, nations still hoping to qualify via the playoffs and lastly those nations who have fallen short of making it to the finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada this summer.
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A relatively simple look for the Fennecs sees them foisted with a two-tone green design that is apparently inspired by the rocky deserts of Algeria, as well as the national colors of green, red and white. The collar is an unusual mini-V gusset design, but other than that it’s a tad bland.
Rating: 6/10
Adidas
One of the more garish Argentina away kits in recent memory, the black shirt is covered all over in a swirl of foliage picked out in various lighter blue hues. The cascading fronds on the shirt are actually an homage to the renowned Fileteado Porteño folk art style that can be found adorning almost everything in Buenos Aires — from buildings to buses to bicycles. The result is undeniably gaudy but we imagine some will appreciate its unique charm.
Rating: 7/10
Lovely stuff from the Belgians here who have concocted a retro-infused abstract away shirt that is almost certain to please the kit hipsters among us. Stealing the limelight from the trefoil logo and minimal black trim is an all-over graphic in pastel pink and blue inspired by both the national federation crest and surrealist artist René Magritte. The Magritte influence is further evident in a quote printed beneath the back of the collar that reads, “Ceci n’est pas un maillot” (“This is not a jersey”), which is a reference to Magritte’s 1929 painting “The Treachery of Images.” One quick Google search will reveal why.
Rating: 7.5/10
Chile (Failed to qualify)
The beige, earthy base is covered in a crackle graphic that then has pockets of little pink flowers scattered across the entire shirt. As if it wasn’t already obvious, the design is inspired by the so-called “desert bloom” (“desierto florido“) of the Atacama, where once in a while the arid landscape bursts into a riot of color thanks to the sudden emergence of swaths of flowers and blossoms. It’s like a geography lesson in football shirt form, and we very much enjoy that. It’s just a shame we won’t be seeing it at the World Cup.
Rating: 7/10

Adidas
No strangers to a nifty away kit, Colombia have knocked up another solid effort for 2026 with a funky retro design. The color palette consists of an ultramarine blue pattern made up of wavy columns of lozenges that appear to make the design shimmer like fish scales. A contemporary citrus zing is then added via the lemony yellow trim to create what is essentially a rather tasty seafood dish.
Rating: 6.5/10
Pastel pinks and blues are used to create a unique graphic inspired by the Costa Rican jungle flora and fauna, and in particular the toucan, which lives among the rainforests. It’s lush and colorful but a little too similar to the Belgium shirt for our liking.
Rating: 6/10
The Curacao away kit is an homage to the Caribbean island’s capital city of Willemstad and the colorful Dutch-style buildings that line the waterways in the Punda and Otrobanda districts. The pastel yellow shirt is livened up with a dash of pink, turquoise and orange here and there to create a wonderful, dreamy sunset feel.
Rating: 8/10

Adidas
This is the final away shirt to be produced for Germany by Adidas before Nike takes the reins from 2027 onward, and the result is arguably a little underwhelming. It’s prim and proper enough, but the basic dark blue and mint design smacks of a prematch warmup shirt rather than a main attraction of any kind. It’s very much in the “OK” bracket, but we feel the trefoil is doing a lot of heavy lifting here.
Rating: 6.5/10
As always, the Greece away shirt is a direct color swap of the home kit, and as such consists of a plain blue shirt with white trim. There’s nothing to get excited about here, but the back of the collar does boast a smidgen of extra detailing with the application of some Hellenic script that apparently references the year the Greek Football Federation was founded.
Rating: 5/10
Sometimes we wonder why Hungary bother to release new international kits every year, and 2026 is no different. The home kit is red with green and white trim, and the away kit just another straightforward color rotation. The trefoil adds a classic air to proceedings, but the truth is that the Magyar’s “new” away kit is almost entirely indistinguishable from the majority of previous efforts.
Rating: 5/10
Italy (Playoffs)

Adidas
Hardly a world-beater and hardly set to go down in the annals of great Italy kits, but the Azzurri‘s new away shirt is at least somewhat elevated by the subtle pattern found in the material. The interlocking herringbone is said to be based on a style used in traditional Italian tailoring that has been worn by the national team (once suited and booted) during their great triumphs of the past. All very chic, but alas, a little bit forgettable.
Rating: 6/10
Designed in collaboration with the Bob Marley Foundation, both of Jamaica’s World Cup kits are festooned in red, green and gold, and contain visual references to the reggae icon and his music. The away kit is predominantly black with a line pattern inspired by rocksteady soundwaves and doodles of old cassette tapes.
Rating: 7/10

Adidas
As close to a surefire hit as you’re likely to get, Japan’s away kit is incredibly fresh with an off-white shirt and brightly colored rainbow pinstripes that takes more than a few pointers from traditional baseball jersey design. Each of the 11 color stripes represents the players on the pitch, and the central red stripe signifies the Japanese football family. It’s gorgeous and is almost guaranteed to sell out immediately. Mark our words.
Rating: 9/10
It’s not a patch on the nostalgia-laden 2026 home kit that was released last year, but the Mexico away shirt is clean and cool with minimal tricolor trim and a faint zigzag fabric pattern inspired by Mesoamerican architecture, such as the ancient Mayan ruins at Palenque.
Rating: 7.5/10
Arguably among the least visually stimulating of the Adidas trefoil away kit batch, Northern Ireland’s shirt is white with green trim. Indeed, the only extra flourish comes in the form of the minty pinstripes that are wound diagonally around the torso.
Rating: 5.5/10
Another shirt that is likely to go down well with the hipsters, Peru’s away kit is built on a plain black base but the simple neon pink, orange and yellow detailing (inspired by the “Chicha” pop art style) and the three-colored trefoil are almost certain to earn it cult status among shirt aficionados despite La Rojiblanca‘s failure to qualify for the World Cup.
Rating: 7.5/10
Essentially just a plain white T-shirt with bog standard maroon trim, there is almost nothing of note to add when it comes to Qatar’s World Cup attire despite it supposedly being inspired by the Arabic nation’s sweeping desert dunes. The Arabic word for Qatar (قطر) is printed on the back of the neck, but that — quite literally — is it.
Rating: 5/10
Another kit that is treading the fine, fine line between minimalism and being devoid of any defining characteristics, the Saudi away shirt is white with dark green and golden trim. The two-tone shoulder stripes are easy on the eye and there’s a hatching pattern in the fabric that is apparently inspired by traditional weaving, but honestly, we’re clutching at straws there.
Rating: 5.5/10
Evoking memories of some of the more dazzling away kits worn by Scotland through the 1980s and ’90s, the 2026 refresh has a bright coral pink base and ultra-smart pinstripes in navy blue. The oversize collar, cuffs and Scottish Football Association crest feel period appropriate, but the overall design feels modern and contemporary. The Tartan Army will snap this up in droves.
Rating: 7.5/10
Burnished gold and lush forest green with the ubiquitous trefoil logo adding a smidge of extra luster to the equation, this shirt is understated but classy and the crest depicts a protea flower, which has become an important symbol of national identity in South Africa.
Rating: 7/10

Adidas
An opulent mix of colors sees Spain furnished with a rich cream retro-style away kit that is decorated with maroon and faded gold trim. There is also an ornate coiled vine pattern in the fabric that is inspired by the gold-leaf illuminations that adorn many ancient Spanish literary manuscripts — and it looks even better when the retro number set is applied to the chest and back.
Rating: 7.5/10
In essence, Sweden have been foisted with yet another predictable blue and yellow color swap away kit, but the fine details help elevate the 2026 model above the morass. Deep glacial blues and faded yellows are joined by a smart 1970s-style Scandi ripple pattern that forms vertical stripes along the length of the torso. Nice.
Rating: 7/10
Ukraine are still fighting to reach the World Cup, but they will look good trying. This jersey boasts a rich blue and yellow that comes with an elaborate chest plate graphic inspired by the “Tryzub” crest (a blue shield with a golden trident) found on the Ukrainian national coat of arms. Take note of that fantastic collar, too.
Rating: 6.5/10
The only other away kit to feature a three-color trefoil, Venezuela’s version comes in the national colors of yellow, blue and red. Those are then used on the unusual wordmark crest that adorns the shirt, rather than the VFV’s modern shield-shaped logo. Retro minimalism done well.
Rating: 7/10
This one is a white shirt with faint yellow dragon graphic inspired by Y Ddraig Aur (“The Golden Dragon”), the royal banner of Welsh hero Owain Glyndŵr and a symbol of national union and pride. The tricolor trim then adds an extra patriotic flourish to the mix.
Rating: 6.5/10
Sports
How to watch 2026 NCAA swimming and diving championships
Top swimmers and divers across the NCAA look to bring their school a title at the 2026 swimming and diving championships. ESPN’s coverage includes men’s and women’s feeds available on ESPN+. Virginia women will look to capture their fifth straight title, while Texas will try to repeat as champions on the men’s side.
Check out key facts about the NCAA swimming and diving championships below:
How can fans watch?
Both championships can be watched on ESPN+. Streams are available on the NCAA swimming and diving streaming hub.
What are the dates?
The men’s championship runs March 25-28 and the women’s championship is March 18-21.
What is the schedule?
*All times Eastern
Men’s
March 25: 10 a.m., ESPN+
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1650-yard freestyle
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200-yard medley relay
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800-yard freestyle relay
March 26: 10 a.m., ESPN+
March 27: 10 a.m., ESPN+
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100-yard backstroke
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200-yard breaststroke
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500-yard freestyle
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50-yard freestyle
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400-yard medley relay
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3-meter diving
March 28: 10 a.m., ESPN+
Women’s
March 20: ESPN+
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100-yard backstroke
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200-yard breaststroke
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500-yard freestyle
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50-yard freestyle
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400-yard medley relay
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3-meter diving
March 21: 10 a.m., ESPN+
Check out the ESPN college sports hub page for news, features and more.
Sports
Men’s March Madness Friday takeaways
The first round of the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament continues on Friday — and we’re tracking how every game was decided.
As every winner’s second-round matchup is set, ESPN’s reporters will also break down each team’s keys for advancing to the Sweet 16.
Go to: Live tracker
How Alabama won: Without their second-leading scorer and their best 3-point shooter, Aden Holloway — who was arrested Monday on felony drug charges — the Crimson Tide were forced to rely on sophomore guard Labaron Philon Jr. He responded, putting up 29 points with eight rebounds and seven assists in the 20-point victory. The Pride did not go quietly, though, with freshman guard Preston Edmead putting up 24 points and going 5-of-10 from behind the arc, with four rebounds and four assists. — Jenna Laine
How Iowa State won: Take your pick from any number of ways that Iowa State rolled Tennessee State. The Cyclones dominated in virtually every category, though the discrepancy on the glass was particularly notable. At one point late in the second half, Iowa State had more offensive rebounds than Tennessee State had defensive rebounds. Another telling stat: Iowa State scored the game’s first 45 bench points. Looking ahead to Sunday’s game against Kentucky, that depth could be the difference given how reliant the Wildcats were on Otega Oweh in their dramatic first-round win. That depth might also be needed if Joshua Jefferson remains out with a left leg injury — he left early in the first half and eventually sat out the rest of the game with a boot. — Ben Baby
How Virginia won: Virginia escaped a scare and advanced to the second round with a come-from-behind win. Senior guard Jacari White took over down the stretch, scoring 15 of his season-high 26 points in the second half, using his gravitational pull to create easy baskets for his teammates. Those 26 points are the most by a Virginia player in an NCAA tournament game since De’Andre Hunter had 27 in the 2019 championship game against Texas Tech, per ESPN Research. White’s six made 3-pointers also tied London Perrantes (2016 Elite Eight) for most by a Virginia player in an NCAA tournament game. — Tim McManus
How Arizona won: Arizona’s first-round matchup against 16-seeded Long Island proved to be a tepid warmup for the Wildcats, who dominated every facet of the game on their way to a commanding victory. It’s striking how big they are in person, and they used every bit of their size to their advantage, outrebounding the Sharks 52-31 and scoring 50 points in the paint while adding 10 blocks to boot. Ivan Kharchenkov waltzed his way to a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double while on the perimeter. And freshman Brayden Burries brought the firepower, leading all scorers with 18 points on 4-of-5 shooting from 3. It was the ideal start for a team with hopes (and expectations) for a deep tournament run. — Paolo Uggetti
How Texas Tech won: Akron closed the gap to four points midway through the second half, but Texas Tech — playing without All-American and Big 12 Player of the Year JT Toppin — shot better than 75% in the second half to run away with it. (Forward LeJuan Watts, who led with six rebounds, also fouled out with under 10 minutes to go.) Freshman guard Jaylen Petty put up a career-best 24 points (5-of-7 from 3), and the Raiders held the Zips’ top-10 scoring offense that had averaged 88.4 points per game during the regular season to just 71 points. — Jenna Laine
How Kentucky won: Add what Otega Oweh did to the list of great performances in Kentucky’s tournament history. Oweh scored a career-high 35 points to send the 7-seed Wildcats to the next round. Oweh’s midcourt prayer that banked through the net at the buzzer sent the game into overtime and helped the Wildcats avoid the upset. Oweh fueled Kentucky’s offense and held off a balanced Santa Clara attack that was led by Elijah Mahi and Allen Graves. Graves thought he had the game winner with two seconds left. But Oweh made sure he and the Wildcats had the last word. — Ben Baby
Sports
Duke ‘hopeful’ Patrick Ngongba II can return in 2nd round
GREENVILLE, S.C. — After nearly three weeks on the sideline with a foot injury, Duke big man Patrick Ngongba II could be back in the lineup for the Blue Devils’ second-round game against TCU on Saturday.
Duke coach Jon Scheyer said he’s “hopeful” Ngongba will play, although he said the sophomore still had some hurdles to clear during Friday’s practice and overnight recovery.
“He needs to practice,” Scheyer said. “He needs to just be on the floor and move the way that he needs to be successful. He’s been ramping up and doing a really good job. We just want to make sure he’s feeling right to play at a high level — not just to be out there, but to be him.”
Assuming Ngongba is fit to return, Scheyer said he is eager to get his center on the court as much as possible.
With Ngongba and guard Caleb Foster out with injuries the past few weeks, Duke has managed with a seven-man rotation, playing several key players — including Cameron Boozer — out of position to fill gaps. Ngongba, who is averaging 10.7 points, six rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game, would free Boozer to be less of a rim protector as Duke looks to advance to the Sweet 16.
Ngongba hasn’t played since March 2 against NC State.
“We want Pat to be out there as much as he can,” Scheyer said. “He’s a game changer for our team. He’s one of the most impactful players in the country. … I’m sure there will be some plays that he hasn’t played in a little while. I hate to call it rust, but I’m sure some things that he has to work through. But at the end of the day, he just changes the dynamic of our team where other guys aren’t playing out of position as much. We’re able to get a better rotation. And you have a guy who’s a big-time rim threat. His passing, his pick-and-roll defense, his rim protection, he does a lot for our team that changes the dynamic of who we are.”
“Again, we’ve done a great job of managing without him, stepping up. We have had seven really good players that have managed, but we need to become complete. That’s the thing that we want to do.
Getting back to something approaching full health is one key for the Blue Devils’ title run, but simply playing with the right energy and emotion is another, players said Friday after watching film of a narrow opening-round escape against 16-seed Siena.
Several Duke players lamented a lack of energy and a poor approach early in the game against the Saints — a game the Blue Devils trailed by 11 at the half.
That won’t happen again, Scheyer said.
“You have to go into this thing as the aggressors,” Scheyer said. “That’s why we’ve been really good and we’ve had the year that we’ve had. For us it’s all about getting back to ourselves, nothing other than doing what we’ve done, defending, rebounding, the whole thing. Our talk and energy, I can tell you it will be back tomorrow. I know these guys, and it will be back the way it needs to be.”
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