Adidas CEO Warns of Over-Marketing Football
Adidas CEO Kasper Rorsted warned about the sport becoming over-commercialized in an interview with German sports magazine Kicker. Investors would profit but fans would lose interest.
Kasper Rorsted complained about the recent decision by FIFA to increase the World Cup competition to 48 teams from the current 32 starting in 2026.
FIFA made the decision “without asking us,” Mr. Rorsted said in an interview with Kicker magazine, referring to the sponsors. “And they knew very well what our opinion was.” The head of Adidas is concerned that FIFA’s eagerness to get more teams involved is motivated by greed and will lead to a dilution in quality of play. “When everything becomes commercial and no longer emotional, then soccer fans will switch off,” he said.
FIFA recently also decided to expand the Club World Cup from the current seven participants to 24 and hold it every four years instead of annually. That decision seemed largely inspired by club investors, who estimated the expansion would generate $25 billion in additional revenue in the period between 2021-33.
The increase in championship competitions extends the season, lowers the quality of play and could easily lead to fans losing interest, according to critics, including Adidas and other sponsors.
Mr. Rorsted approves that the 2026 World Cup was awarded to Mexico, Canada and the United States. Mexico is a top soccer country and there is an opportunity to further develop the soccer fan base in the US, he said.
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
FC Barcelona 26-27 Home Kit Spotted on Sale Ahead of Official Launch
The FC Barcelona 26-27 home kit has been spotted on sale well before its official presentation. The new Nike jersey is currently available for purchase at JD Sports in Thailand, both in physical retail stores and online.
The early availability appears to be happening in multiple regions, with reports from fans mentioning sightings in stores across the United States.
Schlotterbeck Deliberately Wears His Football Socks the Wrong Way Round
Borussia Dortmund and Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck has a very specific habit regarding his matchday attire. The centre-back deliberately wears his football socks the wrong way round - the back is on the front, and the front is on the back.
In 2025, the Borussia Dortmund & Germany center back once told SPORT1 that this was one of his unique habits.
Urawa Red Diamonds 26-27 Home Kit Teased - Launch Next Week
Japanese J1 League club Urawa Red Diamonds have officially teased their new 26-27 kit. The club announced through their official social media channels that the full details and design of the new uniform will be revealed on June 26, 2026.
The teaser image released by the club gives very little away regarding the actual design of the shirt, but it confirms the continuation of their long-standing partnership with American sportswear brand Nike.
A Look Back at World Cup Shirt Number Typography
Football kit design account @PaladarNegroWeb has shared an interesting retrospective on the typography used for shirt numbers in recent World Cups. The visual language of football kits is often defined by these details, with fonts becoming instantly recognizable symbols of specific tournaments and eras.
The collage highlights various iconic typefaces worn by national teams on the biggest stage. spanning from the 2006 World Cup to the FIFA World Cup.
This overview is part of an ongoing series by the account exploring the visual elements of football. It serves as a great reminder of how deeply typography impacts the overall aesthetic and legacy of a football shirt.
