Scotland’s national football team has always worn a dark blue home kit, despite the fact that this shade of blue has never appeared on the country’s national flag, the Saltire. The Scottish flag features a white diagonal cross (St. Andrew’s Cross) on a much lighter shade of blue. This discrepancy has left many fans wondering: why does Scotland play in dark blue?
The Queen’s Park FC Connection
The answer dates back to the origins of international football. The first-ever international football match took place in 1872 between Scotland and England. At the time, there was no official Scottish Football Association (SFA), and the team was entirely made up of players from Queen’s Park FC, the dominant football club in Scotland at the time.
Queen’s Park FC traditionally wore dark blue shirts, and since they supplied the entire Scotland team for the 1872 match, they naturally played in their club colors. This decision inadvertently set a precedent, and dark blue has remained Scotland’s home kit color ever since.
Why Not Use the Flag’s Blue?
The color of the Saltire has varied throughout history. Historically, it was depicted in a much darker blue, closer to navy. However, in 2003, the Scottish government standardized the Saltire’s blue as Pantone 300, which is a much lighter shade than the navy blue of the football kit. By this time, dark blue had been embedded in Scotland’s footballing identity, and there was no motivation to change it.
Unlike some nations that use their flag’s colors for their kits, Scotland’s football identity was formed independently, largely influenced by club football rather than national symbols. This is similar to how Italy wears blue (inspired by the House of Savoy) despite their flag being green, white, and red.
A Tradition Too Strong to Change
Even though the Saltire features a different blue, Scotland’s dark blue kit has become a symbol of the team’s history, passion, and resilience. The SFA has never attempted to change it, and it remains one of the most recognizable international kits. While alternative kits occasionally experiment with different shades or colors, the home strip has remained consistently dark blue for over 150 years.
In football, traditions run deep, and for Scotland, the dark blue kit is more than just a color choice—it’s a link to the origins of the sport and a badge of national pride.
