The United States hosted the World Cup in 1994, and for the first time, expectations were high. The Americans lived up to the hype by upsetting hot favorite Colombia. That set up a July 4 second-round match (and eventual loss) against mighty Brazil, owner of the most beloved (and feared) uniform in sports: the yellow jersey and light-blue shorts.

Perhaps betraying a lack of confidence, the Americans changed uniforms for this game—an odd move for a host country. The strange thing here isn't the design or the color scheme (though, why do those socks look black?). Look closely at this shot of Alexi Lalas defending against Romario. Yes, those stripes are undulating. Was it an attempt to mimic a billowing American flag? A devious trick to make the Brazilians seasick? A half-assed way to differentiate the United States from Paraguay?

Whatever you believe, at least these shirts were better than the stonewashed blue uniforms with big white stars that the team wore in the first round. That was one of the most embarrassing jerseys in any sport of any time—soccer's version of the White Sox in shorts.