Why Do Soccer Teams Have Three Kits? Home, Away and Third Explained
Because two teams on the same pitch can't wear colours that clash. The Laws of the Game require the two teams to wear colours that distinguish them from each other and from the match officials, so every club needs at least one alternative to its usual colours. The home kit is the club's traditional look, the away kit is the main alternative, and the third kit covers the matches where neither of the first two works.
There's a commercial side too: new designs come out regularly and supporters buy them. But the rule about clashing colours is the reason second and third shirts exist in the first place.
What a home kit is
The home kit carries a club's traditional colours: the ones on its badge, in its history and in the stands. Think of Barcelona's blue and garnet, Real Madrid's white or Manchester United's red. It's the shirt a team normally wears at its own stadium, and the one most people picture when they think of the club.
What an away kit is, and why it isn't only for away games
The away kit is the main alternative, usually in a contrasting colour. Despite the name, it's worn whenever the home kit would clash with the opponent's colours. That happens most often at away matches, because the home side generally keeps its own kit. When colours are close, the competition's rules and the officials decide who changes.
Some clubs also wear their away shirt for particular home fixtures or cup games, so "away" is really shorthand for "the second-choice kit".
Why a third kit exists
Sometimes an opponent's colours clash with both of a team's first two kits: a club with a white home shirt and a dark away shirt, facing a team that wears a mix of both, for example. The third kit gives them a guaranteed option. Many clubs also use their third shirt in cup and European competitions, where they meet opponents they rarely play.
Fourth kits, specials and one-offs
Beyond the main three, some clubs release a fourth kit or limited special editions for anniversaries, collaborations or particular matches. On our site these carry names like "Fourth Kit" or "Special Edition" in the title. There's more on them in our guide to special edition jerseys.
Do all teams have three kits?
No. Many big clubs release three a season, but it varies. National teams usually release a home and an away shirt for a tournament cycle, and smaller clubs may only have two. What every team does need is at least one alternative to its home colours.
Home, away or third: which should you buy?
- The home kit is the most recognisable. If you want one shirt that says the club, it's this one.
- The away kit is often a bolder or lighter design, and it's the one people remember from big away days.
- The third kit tends to be the most experimental, with colours or patterns that stand apart from the club's usual look.
There's no wrong answer. Plenty of supporters buy the home shirt first and the third shirt for the design.
How to tell them apart on FashionOwn
Our product titles say which kit a shirt is: "Home", "Away", "Away (Third Kit)" or "Away (Fourth Kit)", along with the season and the version, Player Edition or the standard fit. If you're unsure which version suits you, our Player Edition vs Fan Version guide compares the two.
Barcelona's 2026/27 kits
JerseyBarcelona 2026/27 Home JerseyView product
JerseyBarcelona 2026/27 Away JerseyView product
JerseyBarcelona 2026/27 Away (Third Kit) JerseyView product
Player EditionBarcelona 2026/27 Away (Fourth Kit) Jersey – Player EditionView product
Real Madrid's 2026/27 kits
JerseyReal Madrid 2026/27 Home JerseyView product
Player EditionReal Madrid 2026/27 Away Jersey – Player EditionView product
JerseyReal Madrid 2026/27 Away (Third Kit) JerseyView product
Frequently asked questions
What does third kit mean in football?
It's a team's third-choice shirt, worn when both the home and away kits would clash with the opponent's colours, and often used in cup or European games.
Is the away kit only worn at away games?
No. It's worn whenever the home kit clashes with the opponent. That happens mostly at away games, but not only there.
Who decides which kit a team wears?
The competition's rules and the match officials. Generally the home team keeps its home kit and the visiting team changes if there's a clash.
Why do teams change their kits every season?
Partly tradition and partly business: new designs give supporters a reason to buy a new shirt, and kit deals are an important source of income for clubs.
