In a historic collaboration, Nike and Football Australia have introduced their 2025/26 national team jersey collection, marking the first time a First Nations artist has designed the Australian national football team kits. Kamilaroi artist Reko Rennie’s distinctive creative vision brings a new dimension to the iconic green and gold uniforms that will be worn by all Australian national football teams, including the CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos.
The Australia 2025/26 Nike jerseys’ central design element features a contemporary interpretation of traditional First Nations message stick patterns, establishing a powerful connection between Australia’s ancient cultural heritage and its modern sporting identity. This innovative design approach stems from Rennie’s 2024 artwork, which was recently showcased in his REKOSPECTIVE exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria, creating a meaningful bridge between fine art and sporting culture.
The collection’s significance extends beyond its aesthetic appeal, embodying Football Australia’s commitment to cultural representation and inclusivity. Football Australia CEO James Johnson emphasizes this point, noting that football’s position as Australia’s most diverse team sport makes it uniquely suited to showcase the nation’s multicultural identity. The jerseys align with the teams’ brand identity of “Forever Forging Forward,” reflecting a progressive vision for Australian football.
From a technical and design perspective, the 2025/26 collection represents a departure from traditional Australian football kit aesthetics. Nike and Football Australia have prioritized fan engagement in the design process, ensuring the final product resonates with supporters while breaking new ground in visual presentation. The result is a distinctive look that sets these jerseys apart from any previous national team uniforms.
The Australia 2025/26 Nike home and away kits’ launch timing coincides with significant international competitions, with the Matildas set to debut the new kits at the She Believes Cup, followed by the Socceroos wearing them during their FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian Football Confederation Qualifiers in March. This rollout ensures maximum visibility for the new design on the global stage.
All Australian national teams, including senior, youth, Paralympic, and futsal squads, will wear this unified collection, creating a consistent visual identity across all levels of Australian representative football. This comprehensive approach underscores the inclusive nature of the project and its aim to represent all aspects of Australian football.
The collaboration between Nike, Football Australia, and Reko Rennie represents a significant moment in Australian sporting history, elevating First Nations art and storytelling to unprecedented prominence in national team sport. This initiative goes beyond mere uniform design, serving as a powerful statement about cultural recognition and the evolving nature of Australian identity in international football.
Follow Football Fashion on Facebook,Instagram, X / Twitter and Threads for real-time updates of the latest and greatest soccer jersey launches and much more!