Players like Lamine Yamal and Florian Wirtz walk out at this World Cup for Spain and Germany in a shiny jacket that looks like it belongs in motorsport. The reason lies in its function.
Switch on a World Cup match this summer and you'll notice something new during the walkout. The jackets worn by the adidas teams shimmer, catch the floodlights and recall coated nylon or a 90s windbreaker. They have little in common with the matte anthem jackets of past tournaments.
The look is only a by-product. The jacket is part of adidas' CLIMACOOL SYSTEM, which cools players down in the North American heat. For the World Cup, the sportswear maker from Herzogenaurach is kitting out its 14 partner federations with it – from Spain to Germany to Argentina. The technology behind it originally comes from the cockpit of Formula 1. adidas adapted it for football in tests with clubs like Manchester United, Juventus and Arsenal.
What's behind adidas' shiny jacket
The jacket's job explains its look. While a classic walkout jacket is meant to present a team or keep players warm, this one has the opposite task: it traps the cold from a frozen-gel vest worn underneath and holds it on the body as long as possible. That calls for a smooth, insulating outer layer – one that looks like a technical shell, not soft training fabric.
adidas has not published the exact material composition. The shimmering finish points to a technical polyamide or nylon weave with a coating, which would explain the impression. That isn't confirmed.
Can you buy adidas' cooling jacket?
The regular anthem and pre-match jackets of the national teams are available in stores. The shimmering cooling jacket, though, is not for sale; adidas only offers the regular version. A later release isn't ruled out – technology like this has often made its way into adidas' retail range.
That makes the jacket perhaps the most unusual piece of kit at this World Cup. It's meant not to warm players but to keep them cool. Hottest World Cup, coolest jacket. It is, literally, fresh.
