The Croatian national team has entered a new chapter with Adidas after ending its 26-year partnership with Nike, with the new 2026–27 shirts incorporating distinctive references to Croatian history and traditional craftsmanship.
The home shirt retains Croatia’s instantly recognisable red-and-white checkerboard, but Adidas has added subtle Glagolitic script motifs within the red squares. The ancient Slavic writing system has strong links to Croatian cultural and literary heritage, giving the traditional design an additional historical element.
The away shirt takes a different approach, featuring a blue base with red-orange details and an intricate pattern inspired by Croatia’s long tradition of lace-making.
The design gives the second kit a more contemporary appearance while drawing on one of the country’s best-known traditional crafts.
The new collection represents the first major visual change for the Croatian national team following the end of its long-running cooperation with Nike. The partnership with Adidas officially began on August 1, 2026, under the “Checks Meet Stripes” concept, bringing Croatia’s iconic checkers together with Adidas’ signature design language.
The shirts also attracted attention before their official presentation after they appeared on sale at a sports store in Tokyo. Images of the kits quickly circulated online, giving Croatian supporters an early look at the designs ahead of their planned launch before the national team’s UEFA Nations League campaign.
