There’s been a feeling of real unrest in the international football kit scene recently. For years, the landscape felt relatively settled. The biggest nations were tied to the biggest brands, and while the occasional contract changed hands, there was a sense that certain partnerships were untouchable. That illusion was shattered when Nike prised Germany away from adidas.
The move represented far more than just another sponsorship deal. Germany and adidas felt inseparable, a partnership spanning more than 70 years and one of the most iconic relationships in football. Seeing the German Football Association hand its national teams over to Nike from 2027 felt like a direct shot across adidas' bows. Would the United States national team don adidas instead of Nike? Technically possible, sure, but culturally? It just wouldn't feel right, and this was the same vibe, just with the added weight of ending a 70-year partnership. It was always going to sting, and Nike were quick to turn the screw at this summer's World Cup – Germany's last with the Three Stripes.
The announcement of that deal immediately sparked speculation about where the battle between football's two biggest sportswear brands would head next. With Nike contracts for powerhouse nations such as Brazil and France edging closer to renewal discussions, many wondered whether adidas would attempt to strike back with a marquee acquisition of its own. But the Three Stripes appeared to take a different approach.
Rather than chasing a single headline-grabbing nation, adidas began strengthening its position through volume. On the club side, it successfully brought Liverpool back into the fold – one of the biggest clubs in World football – while also securing Eintracht Frankfurt, ending the German side's 11-year relationship with Nike. But it's the international scene where things got interesting, as rumours continued to swirl around nations such as Poland (with Nike since 2009) and Turkey (with Nike since 2003), with reports suggesting the latter is set to join adidas from January 2027. And now adidas has landed what may be its most significant international coup yet.
Croatia has officially ended its 26-year partnership with Nike and will wear adidas kits moving forward, marking the start of a new chapter for one of football's most recognisable national teams.
Since bursting onto the world stage with that unforgettable run to the 1998 World Cup semi-finals, Croatia has built a reputation as one of international football's most consistent overachievers. From reaching the 2018 World Cup Final to finishing third in Qatar four years later, the Vatreni have become a permanent fixture among the game's elite nations. Throughout virtually all of that success, Nike has been by their side. Now that relationship is over.
The launch of Croatia's first adidas collection signals the beginning of a new era, with the German brand taking on the responsibility of reinterpreting one of international football's most iconic identities. Thankfully, adidas has chosen evolution rather than revolution.
The new home shirt stays true to Croatia's unmistakable red-and-white checkerboard design, but introduces a unique cultural twist. For the first time, the famous checks incorporate letters from the Glagolitic script, the oldest known Slavic alphabet and an important symbol of Croatian cultural heritage. The subtle integration of these historic characters creates a fresh take on a look that has become synonymous with Croatian football, while a special back-neck sign-off features the word "Croatia" written in Glagolitic script. It's a nice addition that allows adidas to put its own stamp on the design without losing what makes Croatia's kit so instantly recognisable.
The away shirt takes a similarly culture-led approach. Arriving in a deep blue colourway, the design draws inspiration from Croatia's rich tradition of lace craftsmanship, an art form that has been passed down through generations and remains a familiar feature of communities across the country. Intricate lace-inspired graphics spread across the shirt, creating a look that feels both traditional and contemporary, while a neck sign-off bearing "HRVATSKA" in a cross-stitch-inspired typeface adds another subtle nod to national heritage.
Whether the kits themselves ultimately rank among Croatia's best remains open to debate, but their significance goes beyond design alone. In the wider context of football's ongoing kit wars, Croatia's switch feels like another important victory for adidas. Nike may have landed the symbolic knockout blow by taking Germany, but adidas is quietly reasserting its position across both club and international football. Rather than chasing revenge through one blockbuster signing, it's assembling an increasingly impressive roster piece by piece, blow by blow.
The battle is far from over, and the balance of power in football's kit landscape continues to shift. And with Croatia now joining the Three Stripes, the rivalry between adidas and Nike has just become even more interesting.
Shop the new adidas Croatia kits at prodirectsport.com/soccer
