adidas kicks off FIFA World Cup 2026 festivities with star-studded short film

adidas has released "LA PREPARACÍON AMERICANA" ("The American preparation"), a short film capturing world football stars exploring unconventional ways to prepare for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The story kicks off in Manhattan, where American soccer player Trinity Rodman is spotted at a busy newsstand featuring headlines on the unorthodox training techniques employed by the game’s biggest names.

Fans then join German footballer Florian Wirtz for a unique session where under the guidance of coach Julian Nagelsmann, Wirtz faces off against Canadian ice hockey players and Mexican luchadores, putting his tournament readiness to the test.

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The action moves south to a western-style saloon, where Spanish footballer Lamine Yamal demonstrates control atop a mechanical horse in Spain’s new Home jersey, with Catalan footballer Aitana Bonmati watching approvingly. Later, football legend Lionel Messi appears at an American bowling alley, lining up perfect strikes as Argentinian Rodrigo De Paul looks on.

The film culminates in Mexico City, where Mexican footballer Edson Álvarez arrives “spiralling out of control”, setting the stage for the World Cup showdown next summer.

adidas, the official maker of the tournament’s match ball TRIONDA and jerseys for more than 22 federations, has been a partner of the FIFA World Cup for over 50 years. The film highlights this long-standing connection while celebrating the players poised to leave their mark on football’s biggest stage.

The film follows the reveal of the official 2026 home kits for 22 partner federations, including Algeria, Argentina, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Northern Ireland, Peru, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela and Wales.

The collection blends each nation’s historic visual identity with a modern, forward-looking aesthetic. Colourways and patterns celebrate national heritage, landscapes, architecture and iconic past kits, while subtle details nod to tournament history and past victories, rewarding fans who look closer.

Engineered for performance, the jerseys incorporate adidas’ CLIMACOOL+ fabrics for sweat-wicking and ventilation, perforated three-stripe tapes, and strategically placed mesh for optimal airflow across the three host nations. A new lenticular heat-applied crest and adidas logo create a shapeshifting visual effect, adding bold, innovative flair.

“The national kit is the symbol of a nation’s togetherness and pride. As teams step onto the world stage at the biggest World Cup we have ever seen, they carry the hopes of a whole new generation of fans, while representing those that have come before them," said Sang Handy, GM Football at adidas.

He added, "A World Cup is about creating moments that transcend the stadium, so we’ve engineered the designs as an honour to each nation’s roots but also to celebrate an era where every fan, everywhere, is part of the story." 

In tandem, Thomas Mace, VP design, adidas Football said, “Designing our jersey roster for the FIFA World Cup 2026 has been about honouring each nation’s unique identity while pushing the boundaries of innovation and performance. Every jersey tells a story — blending cultural heritage with modern aesthetics — and is built using our most advanced technologies to keep players cool and comfortable on football’s biggest stage. From the bold visual details to the shapeshifting lenticular logo and innovative ventilation features, this collection represents the future of football jersey design." 

The film arrives at a moment when sport remains one of the last dependable forms of appointment viewing, drawing millions live across the globe. In Asia Pacific, this audience continues to grow: nearly 545 million people are expected to engage with sport and 61.5 million to attend live events, according to We Are Social’s "Winning fans and feeds" report.

Australia leads the region, with 80% of audiences engaging in sport and 27% attending live matches. Singapore follows closely with 76% and 20%, while Thailand registers 71% and 2%. Across the region, sport has driven 10.8 billion online conversations, fuelled by a new kind of social fandom defined by memes, creators with broadcast rights, and algorithm-driven discovery of athletes and sports on platforms such as TikTok.

The report highlights four key cultural shifts reshaping fandom, offering brands fresh opportunities to engage in this era of social-first sports entertainment.

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