With the FIFA World Cup 2026 fast approaching, adidas Originals expands its narrative beyond performance with a Spring/Summer 2026 campaign that reshapes football as a cultural force.
Arriving just moments after unveiling their federation of away kits, the campaign builds on a pivotal moment: the return of the Trefoil to the World Cup stage for the first time in 36 years. This becomes the foundation for exploring how football has evolved into something that exists just as strongly in daily life as it does on the pitch.
Beyond the Stadium
At the centre of the campaign is the simple idea that the most meaningful moments in football rarely happen during the match itself. They happen around it. adidas Originals focuses on those moments, from the pre-match rituals, long journeys to the tension before the kick-off. These are the moments that shape fandom.
Shot by Jack Begert and Chris Rhodes, the visuals lean into familiar settings, city streets, gridlocked traffic, and spaces where stories intersect. Within these environments, football becomes a thread that unites people from different cultures and backgrounds.
Reworking Terrace Heritage
Classic terrace staples return, like the black and white adidas Samba and deep blue adidas Handball Spezial that anchor the football offering, both have long been embedded in football subcultures. Alongside these sneakers, the Firebird tracksuit is back in black and red, keeping its original identity.
While the collection pushes forward in its reinterpretation of performance footwear. Models like the adidas Megaride F50 and adidas Predator Sala take direcg inspiration from two of adidas’ most influential football boots, the F50 and Predator, and translate that DNA into lifestyle silhouettes.
The Trefoil as a Cultural Symbol
Central to everything is the Trefoil itself. Originally introduced in the 1970s and later reserved for adidas’ heritage line, the logo has symbolised creativity and cultural crossover.
Its return to World Cip kits, and now to this wider collection, signals a repositioning for the brand. The Trefoil becomes more about identity and representing football’s ability to move across subcultures and generations in global communities.
The away jerseys featured within the campaign reinforce that idea. Designed with references to national art, architecture and landscapes function as a performance garment and cultural artefacts.
adidas Originals Explores Football as a Culture for 2026
