FC Köln Fans Disappointed by Adidas Return Shop Experience

Adidas provided nearly identical jersey designs for rivals 1. FC Köln and Fortuna Düsseldorf for the upcoming season, according to the German publication Express. The use of a shared template has drawn criticism from Köln fans who anticipated a unique kit upon the supplier’s return to the club.

The discovery of the similar designs occurred on July 2, 2026, as the kits became available in the 1. FC Köln fanshop. According to Express, supporters had spent months anticipating the return of Adidas as the official kit provider, only to find that the jerseys shared a common design layout with those of their regional rivals in Düsseldorf.

The jerseys utilize a standard Adidas template, meaning the structural design, stitching patterns, and aesthetic accents are the same for both clubs. The only primary differences between the two kits are the club crests and the specific team colors.

Why are the jerseys identical?

The similarity is the result of Adidas using a “template” system for its club partnerships. According to reporting by Express, the brand opted for a streamlined approach that applies the same base design to multiple teams across different leagues and tiers.

While top-tier global brands often provide bespoke designs for elite clubs with massive commercial footprints, many other professional teams are assigned a specific template category. In this instance, both 1. FC Köln and Fortuna Düsseldorf were placed in the same design category for the current cycle.

This practice allows manufacturers to reduce production costs and accelerate the timeline for kit releases. However, it often leads to “cookie-cutter” aesthetics where teams in the same region or league appear nearly identical once the colors are swapped.

How have fans reacted to the Adidas kits?

Supporters of 1. FC Köln expressed disappointment upon visiting the fanshop on July 2, 2026. Express reports that the anticipation surrounding Adidas’ return was high, as the brand has a historical association with the club.

The reaction is amplified by the specific identity of the club. Köln fans generally expect a level of distinction that separates their team from others, and the realization that their kit is a mirror image of a rival’s design has been viewed as a lack of effort by the manufacturer.

The frustration centers on the perception that Adidas “made it easy” for themselves by avoiding the creation of a unique identity for the club, according to the Express headline.

What is the significance of the Köln-Düsseldorf rivalry?

The tension over the identical kits is rooted in the deep-seated rivalry between 1. FC Köln and Fortuna Düsseldorf. The two clubs represent the largest cities in the North Rhine-Westphalia region and compete for regional dominance.

In football culture, the kit serves as a primary symbol of a club’s unique identity and heritage. For fans of 1. FC Köln, sharing a design with Fortuna Düsseldorf is not merely a fashion issue but a symbolic erasure of the distinction between the two rivals.

This rivalry often extends beyond the pitch to include disputes over regional prestige and cultural identity. The decision by Adidas to use the same template for both sides of this rivalry is seen by some supporters as a disregard for the local sporting climate.

What happens next for the kit rollout?

The jerseys remain available in the official fanshop as of July 2, 2026. There has been no official statement from Adidas or the management of 1. FC Köln regarding potential modifications to the design or responses to the fan backlash.

Typically, once kits are produced and distributed to retail outlets, the designs are locked for the duration of the season. Any changes would require a full redesign and reproduction of the apparel, which is uncommon mid-rollout.