Scotland set to look pretty in pink at the World Cup

Scotland's men will be decked out in navy blue - or now pinstripe salmon-pink - when they face Haiti, Morocco and Brazil at the World Cup this summer.

The new away shirt has sparked debate among the Tartan Army since it was revealed on Friday by the Scottish Football Association (SFA).

Billed "scarlet red" with purple pinstripes by the SFA, Scotland football fans have questioned the colour of the so-called "retro" away kit, with many branding it coral, orange or Irn Bru colour.

But regardless of the colour the jersey is certain to give a nostalgic nod to some of Scotland's most iconic away kits.

Scotland are set for their first World Cup since 1998 after qualifying for the finals with a thrilling 4-2 Hampden victory over Denmark in November.

The 2026 edition will be played from 11 June to 19 July in 16 cities across the US, Canada and Mexico.

Scotland fans on social media have compared the new away jersey to the optical illusion dress that became an internet sensation in 2015.

But instead of black and blue or white and gold, it's pink and purple or orange and blue.

It is thought the salmon-pink colour is a throwback to Scotland's victory over Germany in a friendly match in 1999.

Scotland wore similar colours during the match in Bremen, which saw Don Hutchison score the only goal of the game to secure a 1-0 win against the Euro 1996 champions - a match many supporters look back on fondly.

An SFA spokesperson said it was the darkest colour available that conformed to governing body guidelines on the contrast between home and away shirt designs.

On social media, fans compared the colour and pinstripes - whether purple or blue - to the early 1980s red and navy blue Umbro kit.

The team wore the away kit for three years between 1982 and 1985 - taking it to the 1982 World Cup but not wearing it.

Adidas' iconic three stripes feature along the shoulders and down the sleeves and a purple and green thistle motif, symbolising Scotland's national flower, is on the reverse collar.

Both the pinstripe and Adidas Trefoil design are tributes to the classic shirts of the 1980s - a popular design choice with the Tartan Army.

Tartan Army veteran Hamish Husband said the colour of the new away strip may have caused an online debate but the overall reaction had been positive.

"It seems to be getting the thumbs up on social media from Scotland fans but there has been a dispute about whether it is pink or orange," Husband told BBC Scotland News.

"One of the downsides of the navy blue stripe is that it does not stand out on the pitch, whereas this one is really distinctive."

Husband said he liked the shirt and was planning on buying it.

But he said colour would not matter when the Tartan Army take over Boston and Miami this summer.

"Whether the shirt is pink or red or orange, the important thing for Scotland fans is the kilts - not the top," he said.

Husband said fans often looked like a "patchwork quilt" with different colours of shirts in the stands but were brought together by the national dress.

Previous away strips have been bright yellow, pale blue, white and multi-coloured patterned.

But supporters have commented online that perhaps this colour is a step too far as it clashes with their kilt.

The men's national team have previously stuck to the more subdued navy blue shirt and white shorts during previous World Cup campaigns.

But Husband said the most distinctive away kit for him was the one worn during the 1990 World Cup - white shirts with blue and yellow hoops.

"The team wore it in the qualifying campaign when Scotland beat Cyprus and Richard Gough scored in the 95th minute," he said.

"I remember watching it in the house and my daughter's pyjamas were exactly the same as the Scotland strip."

But Scotland's World Cup campaign ended in that same shirt when the side was beaten 1-0 by Costa Rica in Italy.

"It was then identified as a losing World Cup top and I don't think they ever wore it again," Husband added.

Scotland's home kit is already associated with moments such as Scott McTominay's overhead bicycle kick and Husband hopes the away kit will bring the same success.

Scotland men's national team have been pretty in pink for almost 150 years.

The colour is believed to be a homage to the fifth Earl of Rosebery, Archibald Primrose, a 19th Century Liberal prime minister and patron of Scottish football.

It was first worn in the 1880s when Scotland defeated England 6-1 on their home turf, a scoreline that had never been seen before.

As opposed to the traditional dark blue shirts, the Scots turned up wearing yellow and pink hooped jerseys in honour of Lord Rosebery, who owned two Derby winning race horses that were kitted out in the same colours.

His colours were worn by the Scotland national team on nine occasions over the course of his lifetime.

Branded "rhubarb and custard", Scotland wore a modern interpretation on the Earl of Rosebery's colours to round off Euro 2016 qualifying with a dominant 6-0 win over Gibraltar in Faro.

Steve Clarke's side will debut their new away kit in a friendly match against Japan at Hampden on Saturday before taking it to the US in June.

And it is only then that Scotland fans will see whether salmon-pink is the nation's lucky colour or if it will be added to the list of "losing World Cup tops".