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ADIDAS RETURNS THE TREFOIL TO THE FIFA WORLD CUP™ FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 36 YEARS WITH LAUNCH OF AWAY JERSEYS

  • The trefoil returns to the FIFA World Cup stage with designs inspired by the 90’s aesthetic in which they last appeared
  • The jerseys offer clean colour ways, iconography that celebrates the culture of each nation, and a design to support performance in warm conditions
  • All adidas kits are available to purchase from today at adidas retail, select retailers and online at adidas.co.za.


March 25, 2026, South Africa: adidas unveils the official away kits for all 25 partner federations, including 13 nations who are qualified for FIFA World Cup 2026™.

Drawing from the unique culture of each nation, the away jerseys reinterpret classic adidas FIFA WORLD CUP™ aesthetics – such as geometric patterns and stylised vertical lines – in a modern, contemporary style that resonates with fans and athletes alike.

adidas’ story with football runs deep, from performance on the pitch to cultural influence in the streets. Making its mark on the biggest stage of world football for the first time in 36 years, the adidas Trefoil – adidas’ mark of originality – is printed onto the right side of each chest.  With each jersey paying tribute to the football culture of the 90s, reimagined for the demands of the athlete today, and built proudly for the culture and community of athletes and fans that will wear them.

Every jersey tells its own nation’s story with subtle references to unique landscapes, significant dates, art, and architecture, all crafted with best-in-class technologies to balance historic and contemporary design.

Sam Handy, GM Football at adidas said: “As we approach an immense World Cup, travelling across three incredible host nations, we felt it was a fitting and inspired moment to bring the trefoil back to the biggest stage in world football. This is a defining era of football culture. Its style travels more walks of life and pockets of sub-culture than ever before, and the jersey is perhaps the truest representation of this. With that, these designs pay homage to each country, while offering all fans a catalogue of football designs that comfortably transcend the pitch and the stands.”

The full range is crafted for performance, built to support world-class players in high-pressure moments through the varying conditions they will experience across each of three host nations. To tackle the more intense warm-weather conditions, body-mapped 3D engineered mechanical stretch fabrics incorporate adidas’ latest CLIMACOOL+ materials that wick sweat faster and keep players dryer for longer.

The jerseys are also constructed with jacquard fabric to create a more lightweight finish that allows for freer on-pitch movement. Each kit is finished with the classic 3-stripes running down the shoulders, applied via a herringbone stitching pattern designed to help improve breathability and ensure optimal ventilation even in the most demanding climates.

As part of the global launch of its FIFA World Cup 2026™ Away kits, adidas hosted an immersive event in Los Angeles, bringing together athletes, creators and cultural figures from football, music and street culture.
Taking over the Lower Grand Tunnel in Downtown LA, the brand turned a traditional kit launch into a high-energy street party, unveiling the new Away kits and marking the return of the adidas Originals Trefoil to federation football kits for the first time in decades.
The night featured a performance from Kaytranada and a headline show from Baby Keem, transforming a standstill of cars into a vibrant celebration of football culture.

All adidas federation away jerseys** will be available from Friday, 20 March via adidas.co.za and select retail stores.

Design overview of select nations:

Argentina:

The away jersey draws from Argentina’s rich artistic heritage, featuring a distinct swirling blue graphic pattern inspired by the nation’s traditional motifs. Hints of white on a black base enhance the stylised lines, intricate floral swirls, and climbing plants, bringing the design to life in striking contrast.  

Etched on to the back of the neck is a bespoke “Argentina” motif sat in front of the Sol de Mayo, the national sun symbol. 

Germany:

Continuing the visual language of the home kit, diagonal chevrons are re-imagined as an all-over pattern in navy blue, forming a rhythmic repeat of three interlocking shapes. The colour palette blends hues from different eras of DFB history. It features a nod to the classic blue quarter zips worn in 1954, as well as the classic blue and white training tops of the 60s, 70s and 80s, while aqua-blue accents reference the bold coloured training wear of the 90s. All engineered to create a striking and strong visual effect. 

A subtle flag label sign-off at the hem of the jersey celebrates the long-standing partnership between adidas and Germany since 1954.

Italy:

Based on traditional Italian tailoring and inspired by smart suit jackets previously worn by the national team during historic celebratory moments, the jersey is designed with an all-over light blue and white pattern that replicates the intricate weaves found on garments of this type. 

The sleeves, logos and numbering are completed with marine blue and gold detailing, meanwhile a monogram-inspired “italia” on the back of the neck celebrates a personalised embroidery style, that signifies ownership and identity. 

Japan:

Drawing inspiration from the “Colours Beyond the Horizon”, the Japan away design is brought to life through a stripe graphic featuring 12 distinct colours, combining to represent the unity and bond of the nation, on and off the pitch.  

Set against an off-white base, 11 fading vertical lines run down the shirt in a rain-like effect, symbolising each of the 11 on-pitch players, while a 12th bold central stripe takes the colour of the red sun of the national flag to represent the heart of the team – it’s fans.  

The Japanese flag is stamped proudly across the back of the neck as a mark of national pride and collective identity. 

Mexico:

Taking inspiration from Mexico’s rich history, the away jersey incorporates an all-over grey graphic adorning a white base, influenced by patterns known as ‘Grecas’, found on traditional architecture and art. The recurring all-over motif features a repeating pattern of abstract stairs, referencing the stepped exteriors often found on traditional Mexican buildings.  

The phrase “SOMOS MÉXICO”, meaning “We Are México”, is scribed into the back of the neck and symbolises the unity and passion that defines the Mexican spirit ahead of hosting their record 3rd FIFA World Cup ™

Spain:

Spain’s away jersey design taps into the nation’s illustrious literary history. An intricate all-over pyrite colour pattern, inspired by the drawings and graphics found in classic books and manuscripts, punctuates an off-white base that reflects the colour of a page.

The sleeves and neckline feature gold and burgundy details, while “ESPAÑA” is etched onto the back of the neck, with the distinctive letter Ñ celebrating the Spanish language and its culture heritage. 

Full kit information for all 25 nations is available via a separate information pack.

**Nations who are yet to secure qualification for FIFA World Cup 2026 include: Italy, Northern Ireland, Sweden, Ukraine and Wales

Nations who have not qualified but will wear the away kit for the 2026 international season: Chile, Costa Rica, Greece, Hungary, Peru, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.

Jamaica’s Away was launched on 12th February 2026.

About adidas 

adidas is a global leader in the sporting goods industry. Headquartered in Herzogenaurach/Germany, the company employs around 65,000 people across the globe and generated sales of € 24.8 billion in 2025.

For more information, please visit www.adidas-Group.com.   

About adidas in Football 

adidas is the global leader in football. It is the official supplier of the most important football tournaments in the world, such as the FIFA World Cup™, the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, the FIFA Club World Cup™, the UEFA European Football Championship™, the UEFA Champions League™ & the UEFA Women’s Champions League™. adidas also sponsors some of the world’s top clubs including Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, FC Bayern Munich & Juventus. adidas is also partner to some of the best athletes in the game including Aitana Bonmati, Trinity Rodman, Vivianne Miedema, Alessia Russo, Lena Oberdorf, Vicky Lopez. Leo Messi, Jude Bellingham, Mohamed Salah, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Florian Wirtz, Paulo Dybala, Gabriel Jesus, Ousmane Dembélé, Serge Gnabry and Manuel Neuer. 

 SUPPLIED.

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