adidas is celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Italian Football Federation (Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio) with a commemorative kit for the National Team for the 2023 UEFA Nations League Finals, which are scheduled to take place in the Netherlands.

Inspired by the jersey the National Team wore in its first match in 1910 (Italy 6-2 France at the Arena Civica in Milan), the kit has a retro look, reminiscent of the cotton design and loose fit of original historic shirts, and is made with the latest technology and best technical materials that today has to offer.

The jersey is white with gold details. The FIGC logo features on the chest and is joined by a gold laurel wreath and a reference to the FIGC’s 125th anniversary (1898-2023) underneath. On the other side, the adidas logo is also gold. The shirt has white crew neck, from which adidas’ traditional three stripes run down the shoulders. Thanks to the “Flatnik” technique and its weave, which adds an ultra-modern touch to a classic feel, the embroidery on the short sleeves is particularly striking. On the right side, a label referencing the anniversary can be found - a further precious element. The shorts are also white with gold details: the three stripes run down the sides and the celebratory version of the FIGC logo is located on the right thigh. The socks, meanwhile, are black with gold stitching. ‘Italy’ is written on the front, the adidas logo is on the back and the three stripes feature below the knee.

To pay tribute to the 125th anniversary of the FIGC, which was established on 26 March 1898, adidas decided to release this special kit. Reserved for the National A Team, it links the founding of the FIGC to the National Team’s very first match. At the same time, the timeless beauty of the jersey is celebrated.

FIGC President Gabriele Gravina had the following to say: “Thanks to the collaboration with adidas, we are celebrating the 125th anniversary of the founding of the FIGC with an iconic shirt steeped in history and modernity. The anniversary kit perfectly embodies our vision for the development of football: values and deep roots represent the backbone of a movement that looks to the future and embraces change without qualms or hesitation. Furthermore, it’s particularly significant that the side that will be honouring the Federation’s birthday is the National Team, which represents the apex of a broad and articulated system in which more than one million card-carrying members identify themselves. I’m sure that this special kit will also be highly successful, just like the home and away collections launched in January.”

Lorenzo Reich, adidas Senior Director Sports Maketing, also commented: “Celebrating this special anniversary for the FIGC as part of our partnership is a really special moment. At adidas, our credo is ‘Through sport, we have the power to change lives’. Just thinking about the amount of lives that have been changed both inside and outside of Italy by the FIGC and its teams is enough to deeply touch the soul of every football fan.

“Tracing the rich history of the FIGC to bring this commemorative kit to life has only deepened the mutual respect we share with the FIGC, and we are sure that fans throughout Italy will perceive this kit as a timeless reflection of 125 years of Italian football history.”

The limited-edition kit (there will only be 2023 pieces as a reference to the anniversary year) will come in a white box divided in two parts and which also includes gold details. Towards the top of the box, which was made with an embossing technique, the celebratory version of the FIGC logo can be found. There are the four stars that symbolise the Azzurri’s four World Cup triumphs, while a gold laurel wreath wraps around the logo from below. Underneath, the inscription ‘125° anniversario 1898-2023’ is written. Inside is the commemorative kit, which is covered with tissue paper featuring the dates 1898-2023 and consists of the jersey and its accompanying shorts and socks. Completing the special package is a postcard depicting the Italian National Team in 1910; the photo was taken before the team’s historic debut and 12 years after the founding of the FIGC.

The kit will be available from tomorrow, 14 June, on the adidas website and app, at adidas stores, on the FIGC Store and at some authorised retailers.

For more information, visit adidas.it/calcio or follow @adidasfootball on Twitter or @adidasfootball and @adidasita on Instagram to take part in the discussion.