Germany will open their Nations League campaign against the Netherlands in the green away shirt from the 1990 World Cup. The comeback recalls a World Cup triumph and, just months before adidas' partnership with the German Football Association ends, raises a question: why is a retro shirt returning to the pitch now?
When Jürgen Klopp stands on the touchline in Amsterdam on 24 September for the first time as Germany head coach, the national team will wear a shirt that was already on the pitch 36 years ago.
Rather than wear their current white home shirt or dark blue away shirt, Germany will face the Netherlands in the green away shirt from the 1990 World Cup.
The green away shirt was worn in one match at the 1990 World Cup
At the 1990 World Cup in Italy, the green away shirt was worn in only one match. That match, however, lasted 120 minutes and went to a penalty shootout.
In the semi-final against England on 4 July in Turin, Andreas Brehme put West Germany ahead before Gary Lineker equalised ten minutes from the end of normal time. With no further goals in extra time, the match had to be decided on penalties. West Germany won the shootout 4–3 and beat Argentina 1–0 in the final four days later. For the title-winning match, the team returned to the white home shirt with its black, red and gold chest graphic.
The upcoming opponents provide another link to the same tournament. In the round of 16 in Milan, Jürgen Klinsmann and Andreas Brehme scored as West Germany beat the Netherlands 2–1, with Ronald Koeman pulling one back from the penalty spot. The heated encounter at San Siro is remembered in no small part for Frank Rijkaard spitting at Rudi Völler, now sporting director of the German Football Association.
The teams will not meet again in the same colours, however: West Germany wore their home shirt that day.
So why are Germany turning back to the green 1990 away shirt now?
What the early World Cup exit meant for adidas and Germany shirt sales
Germany's current shirts were a sales success ahead of the 2026 World Cup. In June, adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden expected sales to exceed three million. According to Gulden, sales of the home, away and goalkeeper shirts were three times higher than those of the 2022 World Cup models.
Then Germany, under Julian Nagelsmann, went out to Paraguay in the round of 32. Shortly afterwards, numerous retailers discounted the current shirts by up to 50 per cent.
Gulden explained how closely shirt sales are tied to results on the “Spielmacher” podcast by 360Media in September 2026. The longer a team stays in the tournament, he said, the more of that team's shirts adidas sells. Germany's early exit had not been good for adidas.
For September, the adidas CEO expects strong interest once again. The reason is Klopp and the national team's fresh start under him.
The adidas Bringback Collection takes centre stage
The green 1990 away shirt has already been available for some time. adidas reissued it in May as part of the Bringback Collection, alongside Germany's 1994 home and away shirts, the 2006 home shirt and the 2014 away shirt.
The selection brings together iconic designs and specific tournament memories. The 1990 and 2014 shirts are tied to two of Germany's World Cup triumphs, while the 2006 shirt recalls the “Sommermärchen”, Germany's fairytale summer on home soil. The two 1994 shirts are best remembered for the large black, red and gold graphics of that adidas era. That distinction matters for marketing: the current shirts are now also associated with the round-of-32 exit against Paraguay. The green 1990 shirt, by contrast, is linked to a tournament West Germany won.
adidas confirmed the commercial success of such reissues in its second-quarter report in July. According to the company, historic national-team shirts from its archive were among the season's most successful apparel releases.
Now the 1990 shirt is receiving additional exposure. For adidas, it connects the memory of a World Cup-winning team with the first images of the Klopp era.
adidas' farewell shirt for Germany is still to come
adidas also has a farewell shirt planned for the German Football Association. What it will look like and the match in which it will first be worn remain unknown.
adidas' kit deal with the German Football Association ends in December 2026. From 2027, Nike will supply Germany's national teams. The green 1990 away shirt will therefore open the final autumn of international football with adidas. The farewell shirt itself is still to come.
