The difference between a home, away, and third kit is simple: the home kit features the club's historical colors and is worn in its stadium, the away kit adopts contrasting colors to avoid confusion when traveling, and the third kit (third jersey) is an alternative, often more daring, jersey used when the first two clash with the opponent's colors. In concrete terms: Real Madrid plays in white at home, FC Barcelona in blaugrana (blue and maroon), and their away and third kits change each season to offer fans new designs to collect.

The home kit: the club's identity

The home kit is the official jersey worn in the club's stadium. It is the guardian of the visual identity: its colors are fixed by history and almost never change; only the details evolve from one season to the next.

• Real Madrid: immaculate white since 1902, hence the nickname "Merengues".
• PSG: navy blue with a red and white central stripe, inheriting the Hechter design created in 1973.
• OM: white and sky blue, Marseille's colors since 1899.
• Juventus: black and white stripes adopted in 1903.
• France national team: royal blue, with the cockerel and the two stars from 1998 and 2018.

It is the best-selling and most timeless jersey: if you only buy one, this is it. You will find the home jerseys of all the major clubs in our complete collection of football jerseys starting from €29.90.

The away kit: born out of practical necessity

The away kit exists for a purely practical reason: when two teams with similar colors play against each other, one must change its outfit so that players, referees, and TV viewers can clearly distinguish between the two sides. This rule dates back to the beginnings of English football in the 19th century.

Over time, the away kit has become a ground for creative expression. Some notable examples:

• The white away kit of the French national team, a classic of the Blues worn in the biggest events for decades.
• Real Madrid's black or gold away kits, which have become collector's items.
• PSG's pink or mint away kits, designed for the street as much as for the pitch.

The third kit: the jersey of creativity

The third kit appeared to cover the rare cases where both home AND away kits posed a problem against an opponent. But since the 1990s, it has mainly become a creative showcase for equipment manufacturers: unexpected colors, artistic patterns, fashion collaborations.

Among the most famous third kits in history:

1. FC Barcelona's fluorescent orange third kit, a nod to the Cruyff years.
2. The Jordan x PSG editions, which brought the football jersey into streetwear.
3. Manchester United's 90s fluorescent green third kit, now a cult retro piece.

If you like bold and unconventional designs, take a look at our exclusive concept jerseys: unique creations inspired by this third kit spirit, unavailable elsewhere.

Fourth kit, special editions: new trends

For several seasons now, major clubs have gone further: fourth kits, anniversary editions, special Champions League outfits, or capsule collections. The jersey is no longer just sports equipment; it's a fashion and collector's item. National teams follow suit: for the 2026 World Cup, each nation fields a home kit faithful to its colors and an away kit that is often more creative.

Home, away, or third: which one to choose?

It all depends on how you will use it:

• For a first jersey or a safe gift: the home kit. Timeless, immediately recognizable, it never goes out of style.
• To stand out in the stands or in everyday life: the away kit. Its alternative colors are easy to wear with jeans.
• For collectors and style enthusiasts: the third kit or a concept jersey. This is the rare piece that few fans own.

Good to know: at L'Atelier du Foot, all our jerseys are available from €29.90, with the offer buy 3 jerseys = get 1 free — ideal for getting the home + away + third trio for your club. And for a personal touch, add a personalized name and number flocking to any version. Delivery takes 8 to 12 working days throughout France.

FAQ: your questions about home, away, and third kits

Why do teams change their away kit?

To avoid any color confusion with the home team. When the outfits of the two teams are deemed too similar, the visiting team must wear their away or third kit.

What exactly is a third kit?

It is the official third outfit of a club, used when both the home and away kits cause a color conflict. It is also the most creative jersey of the season, often designed as a fashion piece.

Which jersey is the best-selling: home, away, or third?

The home kit remains the best-seller, as it carries the historical colors of the club. But third kits and special editions are increasingly appealing to young fans and collectors.