Gio Reyna’s goal for the U.S. marked a dynamic start to the World Cup. Vinícius Junior thrilled fans with his performance for Brazil. Kylian Mbappé’s double brought him to the forefront as France’s career goals leader. Harry Kane’s pair matched England’s scoring record as his team pursues the ultimate prize. What’s their common thread? Pink.
In the World Cup hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, pink is prominent. Players across teams sport pink boots, standing out against the field’s green. Several shoe companies released them for this tournament, focusing on both performance and visibility.
“Athletes associate this color with confidence and standing out, and that resonates,” said Nike Director of Global Footwear Odinga Nimako.
Nimako noted Nike’s shift at the 1998 World Cup with silver, yellow, and blue boots, contrasting with the then-standard black and white.
This year, brands like Nike, Adidas, Puma, Skechers, and New Balance brought pink boots to the forefront. Players like Mbappé, Vinícius, Ronaldo, and Haaland showcase Nike designs. Adidas boots are worn by Reyna, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Jonathan David, Lamine Yamal, and Ousmane Dembélé.
Puma adorns Neymar Jr.’s feet, as well as American Weston McKennie’s. Timothy Weah of the U.S. wears New Balance. Kane and Sweden’s Anthony Elanga sport Skechers boots at the tournament.
“The colorways reflect the breathtaking palette of an L.A. sunset: warm shades of pink and purple melting into white, with subtle tinges of orange,” stated Skechers Director of Technical Performance Alex Bardini.
From Los Angeles to Vancouver, Guadalajara, Houston, Miami, and Boston, pink has already claimed the spotlight. In Sweden’s match against Tunisia in Monterrey, Mexico, players scored three goals in pink boots — two by Yasin Ayari and another by Mattias Svanberg.
While the color itself doesn’t boost performance, shoe company leaders link it to a mindset. Bardini emphasized Skechers’ focus on comfort and performance. Nimako expressed Nike’s goal for players to feel more aerodynamic.
“That feeling is holistic,” Nimako remarked. “It’s the engineering, yes, but also how the entire product comes together. When an athlete puts on a Mercurial and it looks fast, feels locked in, and weighs next to nothing, that perception reinforces performance. Everything works together.”