Nike Air Force 1 'Germany DFB' kicks off a new era

After more than seventy years, the German Football Association (DFB) is ending its partnership with adidas. From 1 January 2027, the German national team will play in Nike. And the brand is already showing a first product from that new era: the Nike Air Force 1 Germany DFB.

The sneaker carries style code JF2591-100 and features the federation's crest on the heel. A release date for the Nike Air Force 1 Germany DFB has not been announced yet.

Nike

The colorway is listed as White/Wolf Grey/White. The DFB crest sits on the left heel, opposite the familiar Nike Air branding. Small tabs in the colours of the German flag sit beside both heel seams.

The upper pairs glossy white overlays with subtle geometric detailing and gold accents. Underneath you get a black midsole and a translucent outsole. Clean, but with enough detail to stand out.

Nike

After more than seventy years of adidas

The sneaker marks a historic switch. The DFB worked with adidas for more than seventy years. Back in 1954, Adi Dassler put the team in screw-in studs, even though the shirts still came from another brand at the time. Every German World Cup and European Championship title was won in adidas.

The bond wasn't entirely unbroken, though. adidas became the official supplier in 1970 but didn't make shirts at first, so German brand erima supplied the jerseys for around ten years. The current contract ends in December 2026.

adidas

adidas announced the farewell with the campaign film The Great Debate. In it, former world champions such as Philipp Lahm, Jürgen Klinsmann and Joachim Löw debate Germany's best shirt of all time with current players.

Then came the final DFB jersey: black with thin gold pinstripes, the Trefoil logo on the chest and the DFB crest used from 1978 to 1996. A small '1954' on the hem nods to the first World Cup title.

adidas

Nike takes over on 1 January 2027 and will kit out all German national teams through 2034. The federation announced the decision in March 2024. According to Handelsblatt, Nike pays more than 100 million euros a year, roughly double the around 50 million euros adidas paid. The DFB called it by far the best economic offer.

The interest isn't new: shortly after the 2006 World Cup, Nike already made a bid, which the federation turned down at the time. The switch sparked plenty of debate in Germany. Even then economy minister Robert Habeck weighed in.

What Germany's first Nike shirt looks like hasn't been officially revealed yet. During the 2026 World Cup, Nike did drop a hint: a 'Hallo New Jersey' banner appeared in New Jersey showing Jamal Musiala in a heavily pixelated white shirt. Mario Götze shared a similar image.

Nike

When the full kit will be presented has not been confirmed. Either way, the Nike Air Force 1 Germany DFB already shows the direction: white, black and gold.

The sneaker's price and release date are not confirmed yet either.

Want to know when the Nike Air Force 1 Germany DFB lands? Check our release calendar.