World Cup team nicknames: List of alternate references for all 32 countries at Qatar 2022 from Atlas Lions to Samurai Blue

Every World Cup brings with it the chance for fans to improve their geography knowledge and learn a bit more about countries from around the globe. 

As usual, 32 nations have qualified for the 2022 tournament in Qatar with five continents represented. 

Every team will arrive hoping to do their country proud and achieve success in arguably the planet’s biggest sporting event. 

Each nation will often be referred to by their respective nicknames in Qatar so it pays to know who is who. 

The Sporting News looks at the every team’s nickname for the 2022 World Cup and explains how some nations got their moniker. 

2022 World Cup team nicknames

Nation Nickname/s
Argentina La Albiceleste (The White and Sky Blue)
Australia The Socceroos
Belgium Rode Duivels (The Red Devils)
Brazil Selecao (The Team), Canarinho (Little Canary)
Cameroon Les Lions Indomptables (The Indomitable Lions)
Canada The Reds, The Maple Leafs
Costa Rica Los Ticos (The Ticos)
Croatia Vatreni (The Blazers), Kockasti (The Chequered Ones)
Denmark De Rød-Hvide (The Red and Whites)
Ecuador La Tricolor (The Tricolours)
England The Three Lions
France Les Bleus (The Blues)
Germany Nationalelf (National Eleven), Die Mannschaft (The Team)
Ghana Black Stars
Iran Team Melli (The National Team)
Japan Samurai Blue
Mexico El Tri (The Tricolour)
Morocco The Atlas Lions
Netherlands Oranje
Poland Biało-czerwoni (The White and Red), Orły (The Eagles)
Portugal A Seleção (The Selection), Os Navegadores (The Navigators)
Qatar The Maroon
Saudi Arabia The Green Falcons
Senegal Lions of Teranga
Serbia Оrlovi (The Eagles)
South Korea Taegeuk Warriors, Tigers of Asia
Spain La Roja (The Red One), La Furia Roja (The Red Fury)
Switzerland Nati (National Team), Rossocrociati (Red Crosses)
Tunisia Eagles of Carthage
United States USMNT, The Stars and Stripes
Uruguay La Celeste (The Sky Blue)
Wales Y Dreigiau (The Dragons)

MORE: Complete 2022 World Cup schedule | When does the Premier League return after the World Cup?

How are national team nicknames picked? 

Nicknames are often a reflection of a country’s colours, emblems or national animal. 

The ‘Tricolours’ is a moniker a few teams share and is chosen as those nations have three colours in their national flag. 

Animals are often a common theme when it comes to nicknames with lions, tigers, falcons, eagle and canaries all set to be mentioned at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. 

Japan’s Samurai Blue nickname is particularly unique as blue doesn’t feature on their flag but it’s been a colour the team as worn since the 1930s. Samurai, meanwhile, is a common moniker for Japanese men’s sporting teams and nod to their history. 

Another interesting nickname is that of Morocco, who are known as the Atlas Lions. This moniker is a reference to the atlas lion, otherwise known as the Barbary lion, which is an extinct subspecies of lion previously found in Morocco and other parts of North Africa. 

Copa del Mundo Qatar

Why is England called the Three Lions?

One of the most famous football nicknames belongs to England, otherwise known as the Three Lions. 

That nickname is a direct reference to their team badge which has three lions on it and is the official logo of the Football Association.

England have worn the badge since their first match in 1872, while the FA put the three lions on their logo when it was founded in 1863. 

Lions were a common emblem on battlefields in England throughout history with the three lions imagery first used as the Royal Arms by Richard I in 1198. 

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