Real Madrid have worn white since the club's founding in 1902. The color was inspired by English amateur side Corinthian FC — the most admired team of that era — whose all-white kit symbolised gentlemanly football. In 1920, King Alfonso XIII granted the club the title 'Real' (Royal), completing the identity: the white shirts, the crown on the crest, and the nickname Los Blancos.
- Founded March 6, 1902 as Madrid Foot-Ball Club
- White adopted from Corinthian FC of London, football's most famous amateurs
- 'Real' (Royal) granted by King Alfonso XIII in 1920
- Five straight European Cups 1956–1960 made the white kit immortal
Some clubs change colors with fashion. Real Madrid has worn white for 124 years — through monarchy, republic, civil war and sixteen European Cups. The story is best told as a timeline.
Los Blancos, Los Merengues
A club this old collects nicknames. Los Blancos — the Whites — is the obvious one. Los Merengues — the Meringues — came from a 1970s newspaper columnist who compared the team's all-white look to the meringue dessert so beloved in Madrid. Spanish football folklore does not get sweeter than that.
Real Madrid's current European campaign — including a home tie with Inter Milan and the trip to Arsenal — is mapped out in our Champions League Teams & Draw Guide, with both fixtures on our ten biggest matchups list. Arsenal, meanwhile, defend the league title they finally won; that race is previewed in the Premier League Season Preview.
The White Jersey
This season's home shirt is the latest chapter of a 124-year uniform: clean white, the crowned crest, adidas at the helm. It remains arguably the most recognizable single garment in world sport — the one shirt every neutral owns. For how it stacks up against this season's other kits, see our Best Football Jerseys for the 2026/27 Season. The wider season — five leagues, one Champions League — is framed in the European Season Preview, our style guide shows how to wear white off the pitch, and the buyer's guide settles replica vs authentic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Real Madrid wear white?
Real Madrid adopted white at its founding in 1902, following the conventions of the English game — most famously the all-white kit of Corinthian FC, the celebrated amateur side whose colors symbolised pure, gentlemanly football. The club has worn white ever since.
Why are Real Madrid called Los Blancos?
Los Blancos simply means 'the Whites' in Spanish — a direct reference to the club's all-white home kit worn continuously since 1902.
Why are Real Madrid called Los Merengues?
Los Merengues — 'the Meringues' — was coined by a Spanish journalist in the 1970s comparing the team's all-white appearance to the meringue dessert popular in Madrid. The nickname stuck and is now used affectionately worldwide.
When did Real Madrid get the 'Real' in its name?
In June 1920, King Alfonso XIII granted Madrid Foot-Ball Club the royal title 'Real', which also gave the club the crown on its crest. The full name became Real Madrid.
Wear the White
The 2026/27 Real Madrid home kit and the full white-shirt collection — replica from $45.90, authentic player version available.
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