Ask Me Anything with Mateo Kossmann, Global Category Director - Licensed Football Apparel (Feds) and one of the minds behind the adidas World Cup Jerseys

Hey r/worldcup 👋

I’m Mateo, Category Director at adidas, working on football & World Cup kits. As a Uruguayan, fútbol (or *fubol*) has been part of my life forever, long before it became my job.

At adidas, I’m one of the people involved in football apparel product creation, helping take national team kits from early ideas to what actually ends up on the pitch at the World Cup. That means working closely with designers, developers, and federations to turn national identity, culture, and innovation into a jersey. World Cups are the most intense projects we do, huge pressure, fixed deadlines, passionate fanbases, leaks, and opinions from everyone. That chaos is part of the job. There’s a lot that goes into a kit that most people never see (and a few things fans are absolutely right to call out).

I’ll be here for an hour to talk about:

* How World Cup kits actually get made * Who decides what and *when* * Heritage vs trying something new * The stories behind designs (and what makes them iconic) * What it’s like being a football geek who somehow landed this job

I’ll be as open as I can. If I can’t answer something, I’ll say so.

Alright, ask me anything ⚽️


Edit: That was fun, some great questions! Very cool to see so many people as excited as me for kits and the world cup. I’m really looking forward for some great games and to seeing all the kits on the pitch. May the best (adidas) team win