Time travel Which was the most beautiful national team jersey at a major tournament?

The national football team has ensured that Switzerland has often been represented at a World Cup or European Championship in the last thirty years or so. But which jersey has been the most visually impressive?

The Swiss Football Association presented the Swiss national team's new home kit on Wednesday. The national team will also be wearing it at the World Cup (June 11 to July 9) - you can win a copy with blue Sport.

Take part in our competitionThis is the new national team jersey for the 2026 World Cup

Puma has been the official supplier of the Swiss national team for over a quarter of a century ( you can find out more about the earlier jersey history here). So far, the SFA and Puma have been represented ten times at the World Cup and European Championship, and in the USA, Canada and Mexico the partnership will be seen on the big football stage for the eleventh time. However, it was the Italian sporting goods manufacturer Lotto (1992 to 1998) that made the start in recent football history, dressing the national team at the 1994 World Cup and 1996 European Championship.

But which national team jersey has presented us in the best light at a World Cup or European Championship?

Switzerland qualified for the World Cup again after 28 years. The Nati players (pictured: Alain Sutter) showed their best side in Lotto kit - both on and off the pitch.

Two years later, Sforza & Co. celebrated their European Championship premiere. At the tournament in England, coach Artur Jorge's team finished bottom of their group with one draw in three games. There were more (white) points on the shirt at the time.

In 1998, Lotto terminated the contract with the SFV prematurely. Apparently, some of the national team players were wearing football boots from the competition. The football association in turn criticized the supplier for "inadequate material", among other things, writes the "Tages-Anzeiger".

Even at the 2004 European Championships (pictured: Stephan Lichtsteiner), only one point was scored after the group stage. Even the new sponsor Puma could not help. Puma beat arch-rival Adidas in 1998 - and has remained loyal to the SFA to this day.

With two wins and a draw (against France), Alex Frei & Co. progressed as group winners. In the round of 16 against Ukraine, Köbi Kuhn's team lost on penalties - and were eliminated without conceding a goal.

As co-hosts (together with Austria), Switzerland automatically qualified for the European Championship. Unfortunately, the dream ended early - Barnetta & Co. finished bottom of their group.

At the World Cup in South Africa, the national team got off to a furious start with a win against Spain - the eventual world champions. However, a defeat against Chile and a goalless draw against Honduras meant that the tournament was over early for Ottmar Hitzfeld's team.

Even the pithy PR words of manufacturer Puma, according to which the jersey combines "the power of a great white shark" with the "determination of a boxing heavyweight world champion" (via Tages-Anzeiger), were of no use.

Worth mentioning: After a long absence, the Swiss cross on the left chest celebrated a comeback - until today.

Mehmedi & Co. survived the preliminary round with two wins and one defeat (2:5 against France). Things looked good for a long time against the eventual finalists in the round of 16 - before Ángel Di María abruptly ended their dreams with his goal in the 118th minute.

With one win and two draws, the national team finished second in their group and reached the knockout round. Poland, a beatable opponent, awaited Vladimir Petkovic's team in the round of 16. But despite Shaqiri's overhead kick goal, they ultimately suffered a bitter defeat on penalties.

Another memorable moment of the tournament was the "jersey gate". In the final group game against France (0:0), the national team shirts ripped with every little tug. The "Swiss cheese jerseys" were mocked online, with ZDF pundit Oliver Kahn joking: "Maybe they got fake jerseys." The best line, however, came from the grinning Xherdan Shaqiri in an interview with SRF. "I hope Puma doesn't make Parisians."

In the opening game against Brazil, Behrami & Co. straddled their way to a 1-1 draw. They reached the round of 16 with a win and a draw - and failed to make it through after a tame performance against Sweden.

They even finished in last place in Der Spiegel's jersey rankings due to their shirt with contour lines.

With one win, one draw and one defeat (against Italy), they finished third in their group and reached the round of 16. There, the national team beat reigning world champions France on penalties. Switzerland then lost to Spain on penalties in the quarter-finals.

Despite a 1-0 defeat against Brazil, victories against Cameroon and Serbia were enough to see them progress as group runners-up. They then went into the round of 16 with high expectations - where Xhaka & Co. lost 6-1 to Portugal.

Akanji and his team-mates kicked off with a win against Hungary, followed by two draws against Scotland and Germany. In the round of 16, the Swiss shone against defending champions Italy (2:0) before the Yakin squad lost to England on penalties in the quarter-finals.

The jersey featured a "traditional Swiss costume-inspired edelweiss blossom graphic", which combines "the country's cultural heritage with its alpine elegance".

Simply designed in a classic red with white details, the jersey for the 2026 World Cup is inspired by the Swiss passport. Switzerland's topography is also reflected in the jersey. What's more, the logos on the chest glow neon red under UV light.

"The details in the jersey remind me of where we come from and what we stand for: for a Switzerland that can achieve great things through cohesion and determination," says Granit Xhaka on the SFA website.

Take part in our competitionThis is the new national team jersey for the 2026 World Cup