Official Adidas 2026 National Team Ranking Leaked
- Adidas Ranking Leaked: An internal Adidas document revealing the national team ranking system for the 2026 World Cup has been leaked.
- Ranking Tiers: Adidas divides sponsored teams into three tiers: Key Countries, EM Countries (Emerging Markets), and Other Countries.
- Authentic Kits for All: Adidas will provide authentic, player-issue kits to all national teams in its portfolio for the 2026 World Cup, closing the product gap between tiers.
Update: The leaked Adidas national team ranking appears to be slightly inaccurate, as it contradicts reality. Colombia, which is listed in 'Others', (and written wrong, Columbia), is actually an Adidas first-tier team. Why?
1. Colombia is featured in the main ads as one of seven big teams.
2. Colombia is listed as the 6th team on Adidas Europe Website
3. Colombia has got player edits for their home kit (which Adidas created for their first-tier teams only - except for Mexico, whose kit was changed lately).
Split of EM & Others Also Wrong?
In addition, the split between the second tier (EM - Emerging Markets) and the third tier (Others), also seems to be inaccurate. Jamaica is in the third tier, even though it gets special Adidas collections and better treatment than all the smaller countries. The teams from the Middle East, Qatar, and the UAE, are placed higher than the actual reality showcases. The same applies to Ukraine.
The leaked image itself is real and comes from an official Adidas event. Other images from the same event showcase 2026 World Cup kits and their design inspiration.
5 November 2025
Official Adidas 2026 National Team Ranking Leaked
An internal Adidas document has been leaked, revealing the brand's definitive ranking system for its national federations ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Thanks to @MidanAlAtqam.
Adidas "Definitive" 2026 National Team Ranking
The image, titled "ADIDAS FEDERATIONS - WC 2026", sorts all sponsored teams into three distinct tiers: "Key Countries", "EM Countries", and "Other Countries".
Here is a full breakdown of the pyramid:
- Key Countries (Elite Tier)
This is the top tier, equivalent to Adidas's "Elite" clubs (like Real Madrid or Manchester United). These are the brand's main assets, receiving bespoke designs and the full weight of Adidas's marketing.
The 7 Key Countries are: Argentina, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Mexico, Japan
- EM Countries (Emerging Markets)
This second tier is a strategic group focused on "Emerging Markets." This list includes nations from key regions where Adidas is looking to grow its presence.
The 6 EM Countries are: Ukraine, Algeria, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
Notably, four of these teams are recent acquisitions for Adidas (Saudi Arabia in 2023, Qatar & Ukraine in 2024, and South Africa in 2026), showing a clear strategy.
- Other Countries
This third tier contains all other federations sponsored by the brand. Despite being in the lowest tier, this group includes many historic footballing nations.
'Other Countries' include: Sweden, Scotland, Colombia, Chile, Hungary, Wales, Greece, Peru, and all others.
The Great Equalizer: Authentic Kits For ALL
While this ranking dictates marketing and investment, the most important news for the 2026 World Cup is that this product gap is closing.
As Footy Headlines was first to report, Adidas is providing authentic, player-issue kits to ALL federations in its portfolio for the 2026 World Cup. This is a major and welcome strategy shift, ensuring that teams in the "Other Countries" tier, like Sweden and Peru, will have the exact same advanced Climacool+ technology as "Key Countries" like Germany and Argentina.
What do you think of Adidas's national team ranking? Is it a fair representation? Let us know in the comments below.
Match Debut? Kylian Mbappé Back in On Boots Ahead of France vs Turkey
Kylian Mbappé has once again trained in prototype On football boots during France's camp ahead of their UEFA Nations League fixture against Turkey. Following the conclusion of his long-standing partnership with Nike and his high-profile move to the Swiss brand, the French forward has tested On LightSpray prototype cleats in training sessions. Despite testing the new boots behind the scenes and in training, Mbappé wore disguised, unbranded whiteout Nike Mercurial Superfly cleats for the first competitive match against Atlético, leaving his boot choice for the clash with Turkey as one of the key gear storylines to watch.
Official: Santos Announce Adidas Kit Deal From 2028
Santos FC and Adidas have officially confirmed a major agreement that will see the German sportswear giant become the club's official kit supplier starting in the 2028 season. The six-year partnership, running through 2033, marks the third collaboration between both parties following previous stints in 1980–1981 and 1984–1988. Long-time partner Umbro will continue to manufacture the team's kits until its current contract expires at the end of 2027, with Santos opting for Adidas due to expanded global marketing, superior commercial terms, and international distribution across approximately 120 Adidas flagship stores across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
Electrifying: Adidas Pokémon Megaride F50 "Pikachu" Shoes Released
As part of the Pokémon 30th anniversary collection, Adidas Originals has released an eye-catching hybrid sneaker that blends football heritage with retro running technology: the Pokémon x Adidas Megaride F50 "Pikachu". Merging the streamlined upper design inspired by the iconic 2004 F50 football boot with the open-tunnel bounce system of the 2000s Megaride runner, the pair pays direct homage to the franchise's most famous Electric-type Pokémon.
The sneaker features a predominantly black and dark carbon base energized by vibrant yellow accents. Striking yellow lightning bolt graphics surge across the upper with 3D haptic detailing, complemented by three sleek yellow stripes along the forefoot. At the rear, an embroidered Pikachu graphic sits on the heel counter just above a translucent yellow TPU plate, which flows smoothly into the distinctive yellow-accented Megaride cushioning pods.
Finished with collaborative Pokémon tongue badges and themed insoles, the Pokémon x Adidas Megaride F50 "Pikachu" officially dropped on September 24, 2026, with a retail price of $200. It is available through Adidas CONFIRMED and select retailers alongside other models from the milestone capsule.
Adidas Germany 2026 Farewell Kit Debuted on Pitch
Germany officially debuted their special edition Adidas farewell kit during their UEFA Nations League clash against the Netherlands. The release marks the final chapter of a legendary 72-year partnership between the German Football Association (DFB) and the Three Stripes, which began in 1954 and will officially come to an end on December 31, 2026, ahead of Nike taking over as technical supplier from 2027.
The tribute shirt features an elegant, predominantly black base decorated with vertical gold diamond pinstripes running down the front. Adidas has opted for the heritage Trefoil logo on the right chest alongside the classic DFB crest used between 1978 and 1996, both rendered in white. A retro-inspired crossover V-neck collar is trimmed in white and gold, mirrored on the sleeve cuffs, while a commemorative "1954" jock tag sits on the bottom hem to honor the historic year the partnership began.
Completed with black shorts and black socks featuring gold detailing, the on-pitch ensemble arrived just days after its official unveiling. Following its high-profile match debut, the Germany 2026 farewell jersey is scheduled to go on general sale via official Adidas channels starting September 26, 2026.
Nike Phantom 6 Haaland Chapter 5 Boots Revealed - Reactive Nike Hydra Upper
Through its partner stores, Nike has officially revealed Erling Haaland's fifth signature edition, the Nike Phantom 6 Haaland Chapter 5 from his Force of Nature collection. Finished in a Baltic Blue colorway with cloud-inspired graphics across the rear, the low-cut boot introduces Nike's Hydra treatment, which uses reactive white ink that vanishes when wet to uncover additional details of the graphic beneath. Engineered for lethal finishing in the 26-27 season, the boot combines a Gripknit upper with a Cyclone 360 soleplate and is scheduled to launch on October 1, 2026. Huge thanks to Pro Direct and Unisportsore for images and the video.












