Many Crazy Designs - History of German Karneval Kits
Jan 1, 2022, by John
The German Karneval time arrives in November every year, bringing with it multiple interesting special kit designs. Karneval, or Fastnacht as it is known in some regions, is especially popular in the areas near the Rhein river, with the masses going out and dressing up in costumes. So it comes as no surprise that football teams from this region like to celebrate the occasion with special outfits of their own.
We wanted to take a look at the history of Karneval-themed kits, since they have not been around for very long.
1. FC Köln
FC Köln first released a Karneval shirt for their 2013-14 2. Bundesliga campaign. Kit supplier Erima went above and beyond, setting a high bar for jerseys to come. Current kit manufacturer Uhlsport have since taken over the tradition of a Karneval shirt, 2017-18 (still Erima) being the only season in recent years without one.
2013-14
2014-15
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2015-16
2016-17
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
1. FSV Mainz 05
Mainz 05 were lucky to have switched from Nike to Lotto back in 2015. They were instantly rewarded with their first ever Fastnacht shirt for the 2015-16 season, which was re-used for the next year as well. Lotto and current kit supplier Kappa have since always released an annual Fastnacht jersey.
It is quite clear that Lotto took very timid steps at first, only adding colors to a red base, but after several years they went all in with the crazy Fastnacht designs.
2015-17
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
Fortuna Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf released their first and only "Narrentrikot" (Jester-jersey) for the 2017-18 2. Bundesliga season. Made by Uhlsport, it features a half white, half red design inspired by Hoppeditz, a fictional jester from Düsseldorf's Karneval. The city crest is placed in the middle of the chest and there are five symbols specific to Düsseldorf's Karneval at the bottom of the shirt.
2017-18
KFC Uerdingen
KFC Uerdingen, based in the city of Krefeld, also released their only ever Karneval shirt in 2017. It is mainly blue and features lots of small, lighter blue jester's caps all over the front. There is also a yellow and black jester's cap placed above the club logo.
2017-18
Alemmania Aachen
Aachen released their first ever Karneval jersey earlier this week. Made by Capelli, it combines the club's colors black and yellow, rather than going for a brighter, more confetti-like look.
The base of the jersey is black with 11 diagonal yellow stripes on the front as a reference to November 11th, which marks the start of Karneval. The sleeves feature a very different design; they are covered in a black and yellow diamond pattern to look more like something from Karneval.
2021-22
Fortuna Köln
Fortuna Köln also released their first ever Karneval shirt earlier this week.
It is based on the Capelli Caracara teamwear template. It features red and white vertical stripes on the front. The sleeves, back and the top of the front section all come in solid red. The four white squares, Capelli's trademark appearance, run down below the round, white collar.
To add to the Karneval look, little confetti pieces are printed all over the front in blue, yellow, green and red. This makes for a similar aesthetic to the FC Köln Karneval jersey, released several weeks ago.
2021-22
Bonner SC
Bonn has released two Karneval shirts already. Lotto made one that was used for 2019-20 as well as 2020-21, with new kit manufacturer Uhlsport taking the design to another level this season.
2019-21
2021-22
What is your opinion on Karneval jerseys? Comment below.
Limited-Edition Dundalk FC 100-Year Centenary Kit Released
Dundalk FC and Macron have officially launched a special limited-edition centenary jersey to celebrate 100 years of the club's membership in the League of Ireland (1926–2026). Designed by Killian Walsh and Sean Cotter, the one-off kit pays tribute to a century of history with a refined retro aesthetic.
The shirt arrives in a clean long-sleeve cut, featuring a white base detailed with subtle dark pinstripes and finished with a classic black polo collar and matching cuffs. A standout feature is the bespoke centenary crest on the left chest, which draws inspiration from historical club emblems with a modern take on Dundalk's traditional martlet birds. To maintain the vintage look, the Macron Hero and sponsor branding appear in tonal and subtle treatments across the chest.
The Dundalk FC Centenary shirt is available in limited quantities through the club's official online store and at the Oriel Park club shop in both adult and kids' sizes.
OFI Crete 26-27 Home Kit Released
Greek Super League side OFI Crete and Puma have officially unveiled the club's new home kit for the 2026-27 season. Completing the club's full wardrobe for the campaign following the earlier releases of their away, third, and fourth strips, the new design delivers a bold and classic look.
The Puma OFI Crete 26-27 home shirt is predominantly black, highlighted by a prominent white chevron across the upper chest. The sharp V-shaped graphic is framed with subtle grey bordering. Sitting cleanly within the white block are a black Puma cat logo on the right side and the club's circular crest on the left, which is topped with two commemorative stars.
White Betsson sponsor lettering runs across the front directly beneath the chevron. The kit is built on Puma dryCELL moisture-wicking technology and is complemented by matching black shorts and socks to round off the on-pitch look.
Juventus Announce Yokohama Tyres Partnership
Juventus and Japanese tyre manufacturer Yokohama Tyres have officially agreed on a new multi-year partnership, with Yokohama becoming an Official Partner of the Bianconeri. The deal forms a key part of the Japanese company's broader strategy to accelerate its brand awareness and expansion across Europe.
As part of the agreement, Yokohama will receive prominent exposure at the Allianz Stadium during Juventus home matches, including pitch-side LED screen advertising, in-stadium branding, and hospitality access. The partnership will also encompass integrated digital activations and fan engagement initiatives across Juventus' global social media ecosystem.
Football kit enthusiasts will best remember Yokohama Tyres as Chelsea's primary front-of-shirt sponsor from 2015 to 2020 (15-20). While the new agreement with Juventus is an official club partnership rather than a kit sponsorship, it marks a significant return for the brand into elite European football.
Cape Town City 26-27 Home Kit Draws Striking Boca Juniors Comparisons
South African club Cape Town City and Umbro have officially unveiled their new home kit for the 26-27 season to mark ten years of club heritage. Shortly after the launch, shirt enthusiasts quickly pointed out the undeniable resemblance to another high-profile release from earlier this month: Boca Juniors' 26-27 home kit.
Both jerseys rely on the exact same core aesthetic, combining a rich blue base with a prominent, wide yellow horizontal band across the chest. While Adidas crafted Boca's traditional look with yellow three stripes on the shoulders and a classic collar, Umbro opted for distinct yellow shoulder paneling and collar trims for Cape Town City. Both shirts also feature dark blue central sponsor branding running right across the yellow chest stripe.
While blue and yellow are integral to Cape Town City's visual identity, adopting the iconic chest band format gives the South African side an uncanny resemblance to the Argentine giants. Intentional homage or pure coincidence, the design delivers a bold and memorable aesthetic for the upcoming campaign.
Cape Town City 26-27 Home Kit Released
South African Premier Soccer League side Cape Town City FC have officially unveiled their new home kit for the 2026-27 season. Manufactured by Umbro, the strip marks a milestone moment for the club under the campaign tagline "Built on ten years of heritage. Still unmistakably City."
The Umbro Cape Town City 26-27 home shirt features the club's signature royal blue base complemented by a bold yellow chest band, evoking a classic football aesthetic. Yellow detailing also frames the collar and neckline inserts, while subtle textural striping runs horizontally across the body. The Umbro logo, club crest, and main sponsor SportPesa are integrated cleanly across the chest in matching yellow and blue tones.
Matching blue shorts and socks are expected to complete the full 2026-27 home look for the Citizens.
Adidas Unveils All Major 26-27 Club Home Kits in Epic Group Shot
Adidas has officially kicked off the new campaign by uniting its global roster of partner clubs in a massive group photo celebrating their 26-27 home kits. Shared across the brand's social channels with the tagline "we are so back – new season, new chaos, same love for the game," the promotional shoot gathers standout players from European heavyweights and top American clubs against a bold pink studio backdrop.
The star-studded visual highlights key brand ambassadors including Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Declan Rice (Arsenal), and Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) seated at the front alongside Bayern Munich. They are joined by players representing Manchester United, Liverpool, Juventus, and Newcastle United, as well as European and South American powerhouses such as AS Roma, Aston Villa, Ajax, Benfica, Lyon, Fenerbahce, Flamengo, Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Club América.
Featuring a mix of traditional colorways, bespoke patterns, and the brand's latest 2026-27 design templates, the united showcase underlines the German sportswear giant's extensive elite portfolio heading into the new season. All of the 26-27 home jerseys featured in the campaign are now rolling out through official Adidas channels and club retail stores worldwide.
SC Gjilani 26-27 Kits Released
Kosovar Superliga club SC Gjilani and German brand Jako have unveiled their new kit collection for the 26-27 season. The lineup embraces a clean, retro-inspired aesthetic characterized by centered iconography and classic detailing.
All jerseys in the collection follow a unified template built on subtle vertical jacquard pinstripes. A standout feature is the centered alignment on the chest, showcasing a retro oval Jako Sport logo placed directly above the club crest and the ELBAU sponsor. The shirts are finished with distinct contrast tipping along the ribbed V-neck collar and sleeve cuffs.
The 26-27 collection introduces a variety of colorways, led by the traditional red and white options alongside sleek navy and black editions. The dark versions have already seen on-pitch action, featuring stylized white name and number sets.
CE L'Hospitalet 26-27 Away Kit Released
Spanish Tercera Federación side CE L'Hospitalet has officially unveiled its new away kit for the 26-27 season, crafted by long-time technical partner Hummel. The club introduced the new shirt through a neighborhood-centered campaign shot inside local markets and newsstands, paying homage to the city's community spirit, local commerce, and everyday workers.
The Hummel CE L'Hospitalet 2026-27 away jersey features a clean white base paired with a retro-inspired red polo collar and matching red Hummel chevrons along the shoulders. A red diagonal sash runs across the front, neatly divided by the club's "L'Hospi" text across the chest. The design is finished with a monochrome black club crest, black sleeve cuffs, and Catalan flag detailing integrated into the collar.
Songkhla FC 26-27 Home Kit Released
Thai League 2 club Songkhla FC and new technical partner EGO Sport have officially unveiled the club's new home shirt for the 26-27 campaign. The launch marks the beginning of the club's deal with the Thai brand, taking over from previous manufacturer EightyEight Sport under a "Rise Again" campaign.
The Songkhla FC 26-27 home jersey features the club's traditional red and black vertical stripes. Sublimated across the black stripes is an intricate tonal graphic inspired by local folklore and maritime heritage, paying tribute to legends surrounding junks, magical gems, and the famous Koh Nu and Koh Maew (Mouse and Cat) islands.
A classic black polo collar adorned with subtle geometric detailing, white shoulder accents, and the club's Samila mermaid crest complete the look.
Manchester United Forced to Modify Third Kit Front-of-Shirt Sponsor for UEFA Champions League
Manchester United's newly released third kit made headlines with its unique vertically aligned crest and logos: the Adidas logo, the simplified Red Devil icon, and a minimalist Snapdragon emblem. This sleek arrangement was a creative collaboration between Manchester United, Adidas, and Snapdragon.
However, in the UEFA Champions League, the Red Devils will be required to add the "Snapdragon" wordmark beneath the fire ball emblem. This change comes down to strict UEFA Equipment Regulations, which mandate that main front-of-shirt sponsor branding must remain consistent across all registered match kits (home, away, and third).
Big thanks to @jerseystory_vn for the comparison graphic.
