New kit sponsor for Croatia? 26-year Nike deal set to end

(Photos: Антон Зайцев/CC BY-SA 3.0)

The Croatian national football team may soon be sporting a new look.

According to reports from Večernji list, the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) could be preparing to change its main kit sponsor following the expiry of its long-standing deal with Nike, which is set to end on 31 July 2026.

Nike has been the official kit supplier of the Vatreni for 26 years, having partnered with the HNS in 2000.

However, Večernji list reports that sources indicate that the Federation is currently in talks with other major global brands, most notably Adidas and Puma – both iconic German sportswear companies founded by brothers Adi and Rudolf Dassler respectively.

If the HNS decides to make the switch, it would bring an end to one of the longest-standing partnerships in Croatian sport.

Before teaming up with Nike, Croatia wore kits by Italian brand Lotto, including during their memorable bronze-winning campaign at the 1998 World Cup in France.

Lotto kit Croatia (Photo credit: Bar Croata)

Even earlier, the team had shorter stints with Kappa and Umbro.

Kappa kit (Photo credit: Bar Croata)

Despite Adidas being rumoured to be the frontrunner, Nike is still in the race and may yet return with a competitive offer to extend the deal. A final decision is expected by the end of July 2025, Večernji list writes.

Should a new partnership be confirmed, fans can expect to see Croatia debuting their new kit no earlier than after the 2026 FIFA World Cup – provided the team qualifies.

Two friends from the Argentinian city of Rosário, who have perhaps the biggest collection of Croatian football shirts in the world, show off some of the old Croatian kits over the years. Check it out here.