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Barcelona will dust off their 2025–26 neon orange third kit when they travel to Paris Saint-Germain for a massive Champions League showdown on Tuesday night.
The clash between the Catalans and the Parisians was immediately highlighted as arguably the standout fixture of the 2026–27 Champions League league phase following August's draw. That excitement has only grown as the reigning back-to-back champions host the hottest team in Europe since the season kicked off.
While the stakes may not be at their peak, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are set to put on a spectacle in what many view as a potential dress rehearsal for the 2026–27 Champions League final.
However, despite Nike producing three brand-new Barcelona kits for the current season, the Catalans will instead sport the "bright mango" 2025–26 third kit, which paid tribute to the club's legendary "sextuple" achievement in the winter of 2009.
Why Barcelona Will Use 2025–26 Third Kit vs. PSG
Back to the orange kit against PSG 🍊 pic.twitter.com/UxwBgWhvQ0
Despite clear distinctions between all three of Barcelona's kits this season, UEFA determined that none of them contrast sufficiently with PSG's home blue and red strip. UEFA's ruling is also shaped by the television broadcasters holding the rights to the match, per SPORT.
Barcelona's home Blaugrana jersey obviously conflicts with PSG's home kit. Barça's second kit — the black and purple Kobe Bryant-inspired ensemble — was also ruled out. Even the teal 2026–27 third kit the Catalans debuted in their victory over Levante failed to receive UEFA's approval.
"In order to minimize color clashes," Article 9 of UEFA's equipment regulations states. "There must be a clear contrast between each team's first-choice and second-choice outfield player attires, to the extent that they could be worn by opposing teams in a match.
"If one playing attire comprises predominantly dark colors, the other must comprise predominantly light colors, or if one of the playing attires is hooped, banded, striped or checked, the other must not contain either of the colors of the hoops/bands/stripes/checks."
PSG's home kit this season features a lighter shade of blue compared to their classic navy base from prior campaigns. Although Barcelona's teal jersey is on the lighter side, UEFA and broadcasters opted to eliminate any potential confusion by rejecting that option too.
Last week, PSG were permitted to wear their home kit against Manchester City, even with Enzo Maresca's side in their traditional sky blue. However, City's sky blue is a lighter tone than Barcelona's teal. Additionally, the Premier League club wear white shorts and socks, providing further contrast to prevent any kit confusion.
Not the First Time Barcelona Wear Previous Season's Kit
Barcelona's "bright mango" kit made its final appearance when Hansi Flick's squad beat Basel 5–2 in their second-to-last preseason fixture before the season began. At that stage, however, this season's third kit had not yet been revealed.
That said, you don't need to look too far back to find the last occasion Barcelona were required to wear a kit from a previous season.
Last year, Flick's squad played their first two matches of the 2025–26 season wearing the bright, lemon-green third kit from the 2024–25 campaign — the same strip infamously associated with Barcelona's Champions League semifinal exit against Inter Milan in Flick's first season in charge.
Much like UEFA this time around, it was La Liga's governing body that prevented Barcelona from wearing any of their new kits in the opening two games of last season.
Now history has repeated itself, and Barcelona find themselves in the same situation. Nevertheless, clad in their neon orange kit from last season, the Catalans will be aiming to make it 12 wins from 12 games across all competitions to open the campaign in a mouth-watering encounter against the reigning European champions.