It's not entirely new. During the 1990s, some teams used a similar shadow striping. Mexico had a very noticeable Aztec design in light and dark greens, while Brazil had its confederation shield more discreetly blended into its 1994 shirts when it won a fourth title.

With Germany, Argentina, Spain and France among its clients, Adidas probably had the least discretion to alter the uniforms. Spain's standard red home has vertical yellow pinstripes this year, not unprecedented in its history. The Japan kit, with accentuated stripes on both the home and away jerseys, is the most offbeat.

"Most of our countries are very traditional," said Michelle Bender, Adidas' category manager for soccer apparel. "Countries that we have that didn't qualify, like Nigeria, those have a little more flair and they're not as staunch in their heritage. The Japan jersey, that has different marks. That's the only one where we stepped out of the traditional."

Recently, most major manufacturers developed a stock pattern for jerseys, blending in the colors of the countries to highlight their brand. Adidas had broad stripes over the shoulder with the countries' colors. Nike had a circle on the chest where the numbers were displayed. This year, Lotto has a pattern with radiating stripes for Serbia-Montenegro and Ukraine, while Umbro has a stripe over the shoulder and midway down the side for England and Sweden.

Adidas has a less-obtrusive form this year, incorporating its hourglass-like category logo ¡ª the primary element on its "Teamgeist" ball, the official ball of the World Cup ¡ª into all its apparel. It's most noticeable on the side panels of the jerseys.

Nike and Puma, however, have gone a different route, developing a specific look for each team.

So individual is the U.S. uniform, with a red-blue stripe down the left side of the white shirt, that the concept was continued down the left side, including the left sock. There's no danger of the players putting the sock on the wrong foot, either. Nike's socks this year are sewn for the right and left, and labeled as such.

None of the manufacturers will say how much their presence at the World Cup is worth.

"The global market for soccer gear comes to billions of dollars a year. So by virtue of size alone ¡ª the number of eyeballs, and the number of those eyeballs who are looking to spend ¡ª the Cup is clearly extremely important," said Evan Osborne, who teaches sports economics at Wright State in Dayton, Ohio.

"If one of a company's sponsored teams wins the Cup, so much the better, but even being there is vital."