Italy’s tricolour flag features three primary colors together in horizontal blocks: red, white and green.
But their main jersey color in sports is…blue?
That’s right. You may have noticed that Italian athletes and teams at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games are wearing predominantly blue jerseys that feature the nation’s crest.
Here’s what to know about the Italy’s history with blue both outside of sports and within:
What colors are Italy’s flag?
Italy’s flag features three horizontal blocks of red, white and green.
So why do Italians team wear blue?
Blue was the color of the House of Savoy, a royal dynasty that ruled Italy from 1861 to 1946. The house color since the 1300s was Savoy azure, a shade a blue, and it was the country’s national color at the time of unification.
Italy eventually evolved from the monarchy, but kept the color to honor the king that brought them together.
What are the Azzurris?
Azzurri in Italian translates to blue. So, the Azzurris, the common name for many Italian national teams, translates to “the Blues.”
It’s perhaps most commonly known for the Italian national soccer team, whose home kit color is primarily blue with away kits usually featuring white designs.
Claudio Villa – FIGC/FIGC via Getty ImagesClaudio Villa – FIGC/FIGC via Getty Images
Players of Italy line up prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Moldova and Italy at Stadionul Zimbru on Nov. 13, 2025 in Chisinau, Moldova.
Where are the 2026 Winter Olympics?
The 2026 Games are taking place in Milan-Cortina, two cities in the northern half of Italy.
When Italy’s national anthem rang out at the Olympic opening ceremony, the voice was anything but random. Laura Pausini is a global icon, a Latin music powerhouse, and one of Italy’s most successful singers.