The 2022 World Cup of kits part three: Round of 16 and the Quarter Finals

It's a close-fought thing between the Netherlands and England, with both scoring 14/20 in the group stage. The two countries both face a similar shortfall, with one kit being comfortably better than the other. For the Netherlands, it's their home kit – with its bright orange base and graphic pattern – that outranks their plain blue away kit.

England has the same problem but the other way around, with an underwhelming home kit and a great away kit. In the end, it’s England’s retro-inspired all-red away shirt that takes them into the quarter-finals, with the Netherlands unlucky to be knocked out so soon.

Winners: England

Two heavy hitters meet in the second Round of 16 match-ups. Both of France’s kits are solid attempts, each scoring an 8 in the group stage, and it seems like they scored more than enough to make it through to the quarter-finals. What it all comes down to, though, is Argentina’s away shirt, one of the tournament’s best.

The Legacy Indigo and Purple Rush colour palette is an unexpected one, but it's the perfect basis for the flame pattern that takes over most of the shirt. Not only does it see Argentina into the quarterfinals, but it will probably go down as one of the all-time great World Cup kits.

Winners: Argentina

Belgium were slightly lucky to progress from their group, and it was mainly because of the quality of the Canadian and Moroccan entries. Belgium’s luck has run out, and it's a second-round match against the team with the kit of the tournament, and Japan’s origami-inspired designs guarantee they progress.

The star of the show is still the home kit, complete with an all-over print that references the idea of completing 1000 origami pieces to get a wish granted. The away kit also comfortably outranks any of Belgium’s, with the same origami cranes appearing across the shoulders.

Winners: Japan

It's another close match between Brazil and Portugal. Even though Brazil topped their group and Portugal came runners up in theirs, the two teams scored the same number of points. Portugal were more consistent over the two kits – each one scoring the same – but in the end, they’re just pipped by one of the World Cup’s all-time great sights.

For all the red and green diagonal lines, Portugal are no match for the green and yellow of Brazil. This year’s kit is a pretty classic affair, with the addition of a single button collar and a subtle jaguar print pattern both helping them to progress.

Winners: Brazil

On paper, Wales vs Ecuador might not seem like a World Cup glamour tie, but both teams do well in the kit stakes. For Ecuador, it's all about their away kit, which mixes a dark blue base with a lighter pattern inspired by the Incan civilisation and metallic silver detailing as a bonus.

Despite their away kit, Ecuador are no match for Wales. Wales’ home shirt is covered with a subtle pattern, while the away shirt combines an understated white base with a green, white and red collar. Straight into the quarter-finals for the Welsh.

Winners: Wales

There’s something about Denmark vs Mexico that absolutely screams “World Cup Round of 16”, and here we are. Both teams have delivered strong kits, and Mexico’s away shirt will, rightly, go down as one of the best at this – or any – tournament.

That makes it even more of a shock that Denmark are progressing. Their minimalist kits are a powerful statement about the controversy surrounding this year’s World Cup, and both the all-red and all-white kits will be remembered for a long time.

Winners: Denmark

Two World Cup kit heavyweights come head to head in the Round of 16. In the past, both countries have delivered some of the best-ever World Cup kits, and they’re also behind some of the strongest at the 2022 tournament.

Both teams have equally matched – and equally good – away kits, with the blue-on-blue checkerboard of Croatia cancelling out Germany’s black and maroon design. In the end, it all comes down to the home kits, and Germany edges out Croatia thanks to the subtle detailing across their black and white shirt. Croatia are unlucky to go out at the second hurdle.

Winners: Germany

Cameroon are one of the weaker teams to have made it through to the Round of 16, and their two rib cage-inspired designs are unlucky to come up against the strength of South Korea. The home kit scores a decisive victory with its red-on-red tiger stripe and smart black trim, but it's the away kit that drives South Korea through with its firework-style design.

Nike has had fun with the South Korean designs this year, and they might just end up being to this tournament what Nigeria were to 2018.

Winners: South Korea

The Hand of God, the Goal of the Century, David Beckham’s red card. It’s all come down to this. Argentina and England’s rivalry is reacquainted through their kit designs, and it's a close match. Once again, England’s home shirt lets them down – especially coming up against Argentina’s refined take on its blue and white stripes.

In reality, it all comes down to the decider between two of the better away kits at the World Cup, and in the end, Argentina’s fiery shirt proves too much and gets them a place in the semi-finals.

Winners: Argentina

The strength of Japan’s home shirt has proven to be consistent throughout the tournament and easily helps them through the quarter-finals. In the end, it's the origami crane theme that cements its status as the tournament’s design to beat.

It’s an early, and unfortunate, exit for Brazil and their world-famous Canarinha yellow and green. It all comes down to the jaguar print motif across both the kits, but it's the away shirt where they lose the battle.

Winners: Japan

No one had Wales vs Denmark as a World Cup heavyweight clash, but the two teams are both looking good for the Quarter Finals. Wales may have perfected their understated-but-original designs for the tournament, but Denmark’s harsh minimalism, and the political statement it entails, are enough to progress.

It's the home and away kit – plain red and white, respectively – that overcome the Welsh designs, but Denmark’s all-black third kit shows the strength in depth of the three charged designs. It's a close-fought contest, but Denmark reaches the semis.

Winners: Denmark

Arguably the glamour tie of the quarter finals. On one side is the nation with some of the best-ever World Cup kits, while on the other is a potential dark horse, complete with arguably the most “fun” kit at the tournament.

The two teams are closely matched, and scored exactly the same points during the Group Stage. In the end, the classic design of Germany’s home shirt is enough to help them progress into the semi-finals, but South Korea go close to their second-ever semi-final appearance.

Winners: Germany