Based on quantum statistical mechanics, we show that the SU(3) color singlet ensemble of a quark–gluon gas exhibits a Z(3) symmetry through the normalized character in fundamental representation and also becomes equivalent, within a stationary point approximation, to the ensemble given by Polyakov Loop. In addition, a Polyakov Loop gauge potential is obtained by considering spatial gluons along with the invariant Haar measure at each space point. The probability of the normalized character in SU(3) vis-a-vis a Polyakov Loop is found to be maximum at a particular value, exhibiting a strong color correlation. This clearly indicates a transition from a color correlated to an uncorrelated phase, or vice versa. When quarks are included in the gauge fields, a metastable state appears in the temperature range 145 ⩽ T(MeV) ⩽ 170 due to the explicit Z(3) symmetry breaking in the quark–gluon system. Beyond T ⩾ 170 MeV, the metastable state disappears and stable domains appear. At low temperatures, a dynamical recombination of ionized Z(3) color charges to a color singlet Z(3) confined phase is evident, along with a confining background that originates due to the circulation of two virtual spatial gluons, but with conjugate Z(3) phases in a closed loop. We also discuss other possible consequences of the center domains in the color deconfined phase at high temperatures.Communicated by Steffen Bass