adidas brings back the Trefoil emblem to the FIFA World Cup™ stage for the first time in 36 years with the launch of the away shirts

Today, adidas presents the official away kits for all 25 partner confederations, including 13 nations already qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup™.

Inspired by each country's unique culture, the away shirts reinterpret classic adidas FIFA World Cup™ aesthetics — such as geometric patterns and stylized vertical lines — in a modern and contemporary way that resonates with fans and athletes alike.

The adidas story in football is a deep one, from performance on the field to the cultural influence of urban style. Marking its presence on world football's biggest stage for the first time in 36 years, the adidas Trefoil emblem — the symbol of adidas originality — is printed on the right chest of each shirt.

Each kit pays homage to the culture of football from the 90s, reinterpreted for the demands of the modern athlete and proudly created for the culture and community of athletes and fans who will wear it.

Each shirt tells the story of its own nation through subtle references to unique landscapes, important dates, art and architecture, all made using state-of-the-art technologies to balance historic and contemporary design.

Sam Handy, GM Football at adidassaid: “As we approach a World Cup on a massive scale across three incredible host countries, we felt it was the right time and a real source of inspiration to bring the Trefoil emblem back to world football's biggest stage. This is a defining era for football culture. Its style is spreading more than ever across various subcultures, and the shirt is perhaps the most authentic representation of this phenomenon. In that spirit, these designs pay homage to each country while providing fans with a collection of designs that easily straddle the line between the pitch and the stands.”

The entire collection is built for performance, designed to support world-class players in high-pressure moments and the varied conditions they will encounter across the three host countries. To cope with higher temperatures, 3D mechanical stretch materials, developed based on body mapping, integrate adidas' latest CLIMACOOL+ materials, which wick away sweat faster and maintain thermal comfort.

The jerseys are also made from jacquard fabric for a lighter finish that allows for greater freedom of movement on the pitch. Each piece of equipment is completed by the classic three stripes on the shoulders, applied by a spike stitch pattern, which is designed to improve breathability and ensure optimal ventilation even in the most demanding climatic conditions.

As part of the global launch of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ away kits, adidas organized an immersive event in Los Angeles, bringing together athletes, content creators and cultural figures from football, music and urban culture.

The brand transformed the Lower Grand Tunnel in downtown Los Angeles into a high-energy urban party, unveiling the new away shirts and marking the return of the adidas Originals Trefoil emblem to football association kits for the first time in decades.

The evening included a moment by artist Kaytranada and a headlining concert by Baby Keem, turning a traffic jam into a vibrant celebration of football culture.

All adidas away shirts*** will be available starting Friday, March 20, 11:00 EET, on adidas.ro and in selected stores.

Introducing the design for a few nations

Argentine

The away shirt is inspired by Argentina's rich artistic heritage and features a distinctive graphic pattern in shades of blue inspired by the country's traditional motifs. Accents of white on a black base highlight the stylized lines, intricate floral spirals and climbing plants, bringing the design to life through strong contrast.

On the back of the collar is engraved a custom motif with the inscription “Argentina”, placed in front of the Sol de Mayo, the national symbol of the sun.

Germany

Continuing the visual language of the home kit, the diagonal chevrons are reinterpreted as an all-over navy blue pattern, forming a rhythmic repetition of three interlocking shapes. The color palette combines shades from different eras of DFB history.

It includes a reference to the classic blue zip-up jackets worn in 1954, but also the blue-and-white training shirts of the 60s, 70s and 80s, while the aqua-blue accents refer to the colorful equipment of the 90s. All this creates a strong and distinct visual effect.

A discreet German flag tag placed at the base of the shirt celebrates adidas' long-standing partnership with Germany since 1954.

Italy

Inspired by traditional Italian tailoring and the elegant jackets worn by the national team in historic moments of celebration, the shirt features an all-over pattern in light blue and white that replicates the intricate fabrics of these garments.

The sleeves, logos and numbers integrate details in navy blue and gold, and on the back of the collar appears the inscription 'Italia', stylized in a monogram, which evokes the idea of ​​personalisation, belonging and identity.

Japan

Inspired by the 'Colours Beyond the Horizon' concept, Japan's away shirt design comes alive with a striped pattern in 12 distinct colours, representing the nation's unity and connection, on and off the pitch.

On a cream-white base, 11 faded vertical lines run down the shirt in a rain-like effect, symbolizing the 11 players on the pitch. The 12th line, centrally placed and in an intense shade inspired by the red sun on the national flag, symbolizes the heart of the team: the fans.

The flag of Japan is proudly printed on the back of the collar as a symbol of national identity and collective pride.

Mexico

Inspired by Mexico's rich history, the away shirt integrates an all-over gray graphic pattern applied to a white base, influenced by the motifs known as “Grecas” found in traditional architecture and art. The recurring motifs form a repetitive pattern of abstract steps, referencing the stepped exterior of traditional Mexican buildings.

The phrase “SOMOS MÉXICO”, which means “We are Mexico”, is inscribed on the back of the collar and symbolizes the unity and passion that define the Mexican spirit before hosting the FIFA World Cup™ for the third time.

Spain

The design of the Spain away shirt draws inspiration from the country's rich literary tradition. An intricate pyrite-colored pattern, inspired by illustrations and graphics from classic books and manuscripts, punctuates a cream-white base that evokes the color of a page.

The sleeves and collar include gold and burgundy detailing and 'ESPAÑA' is engraved on the back of the collar, the distinctive letter Ñ celebrating the Spanish language and its cultural heritage.