How many World Cup shirts might not be worn in matches?

Up to 18 of the national team shirts released for this summer's World Cup could end up unused by their countries, following Fifa's decision over which kits will feature in the group stage.

A total of 108 strips, excluding those worn by goalkeepers, have been released by the 48 teams taking part in the US this summer.

But only 87 of them are guaranteed to feature at least once in the tournament.

Every nation has at least two main kits, following the traditional 'home' and 'away' shirt concepts.

On top of that, 12 countries have released a third shirt that is a different colour to their first two shirts.

Fifa has already announced which of those shirts will be worn by teams during the 72 group-stage matches, with not selected for a game so far.

There is, of course, the possibility teams go on to wear their remaining shirts in later rounds in the tournament, should they progress.

The majority of shirts not selected for games so far are either away or third shirts. However, both Ghana and Uzbekistan will not wear their home shirts for any of their group-stage matches.

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Curacao, DR Congo, Iran, Ivory Coast, Japan, Netherlands, Portugal, Senegal and South Africa will not wear their away shirts in any of their three matches.

Ecuador, Haiti, Iraq and Jordan will go without using their third shirts in their scheduled matches.

Some nations will wear all three of their shirts during the group stage. Canada, Cape Verde, Mexico and Panama will wear different strips in all of their matches.

England and Scotland have both released two shirts each and will wear both in their group-stage fixtures. Scotland will, however, wear a different goalkeeper kit in all three of their group matches against Haiti, Morocco and Brazil.

Which are the best kits that may not be used?

Image caption,

Curacao will make their World Cup debut later this month

Of the 12 away kits that could miss out on making an appearance in a match this summer, six were recently shortlisted by BBC Sport as being among the most impressive of this year's World Cup shirts.

The alternative strips of Austria, Belgium, Curacao, Japan, Ivory Coast and South Africa all featured. As things stand, none of those will be worn unless those nations progress into the later rounds and are then told by Fifa to wear those strips.