Why France Took the Field in Green Jerseys

France’s national team drew attention on Friday night at the World Cup by wearing a green away kit, a rare choice for a country best known for its blue, white and red tricolor. The unusual color prompted confusion among fans, but the French federation used the shirt to signal its friendly relationship with the tournament host and to pay tribute to the Statue of Liberty.

According to the article, the design is a nod to the monument France gave the United States in 1976, marking 100 years of American independence and symbolizing closer ties between the two countries. French media reported that the Nike shirt has become a sales hit, with demand so strong that its price on the secondhand market has already climbed to 200 euros. It is reportedly selling better than France’s traditional blue jersey.

The green kit is also linked to a very rare episode in French football history. France has been forced to wear green only once before, at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, after a kit manager forgot to bring the proper uniforms. Tournament organizers then had to find shirts from an amateur club in Mar del Plata, and France played its first ever match in green.