White shorts worn by professional female footballers have been found to impact their performance and discourage young girls from participating in the sport, as they cause anxiety when playing while on their period, according to new research.
The study analyzed performances in major tournaments—World Cups and European Championships—between 2002 and 2023, and found that women’s teams wearing white shorts averaged 1.27 points per match, compared to 1.57 points per match for teams wearing darker kits. In men’s teams, no similar performance variation was observed based on kit color.
Although fewer professional teams now opt for white shorts, at this year’s Euro, Denmark, Norway, and Finland are among the teams still wearing white kits.
Although fewer professional teams now opt for white shorts, at this year’s Euro, Denmark, Norway, and Finland are among the teams still wearing white kits. The England women’s national team switched to blue shorts ahead of the 2023 World Cup after players voiced concerns. Team captain Leah Williamson stated that the topic of menstruation in sport needs to be normalised.
Beyond performance, uniform color also affects participation. According to research by Adidas, a UEFA partner, 65% of women who menstruate say that bleeding through their clothing is their top concern when playing sports. A separate 2024 study in the UK found that six in ten girls are reluctant to participate in sports because they fear period leaks.
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