German sportswear company Adidas has reached a new agreement with the South African Football Association (SAFA) to become the official technical sponsor of the Bafana Bafana national football team.
The deal runs for three years, with an option to renew for two more, marking the brand’s return to the South African national team for the first time since the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
In simple terms, a technical sponsor is the company responsible for designing and supplying a team’s playing kits, training wear, and other official sports gear. This means that starting next year, Bafana Bafana will once again wear jerseys, shorts, and other apparel made by Adidas.
According to SAFA, the partnership with Adidas officially begins after the current deal with Le Coq Sportif, the French sportswear company, ends in December 2025.
Le Coq Sportif will continue to provide kits for the team until the end of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
SAFA Chief Executive Officer Lydia Monyepao thanked the outgoing sponsor for its support, saying:
“Our relationship started with many challenges but inspired a lot of on-field success for all our national teams, specifically our senior teams, Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana. We want to thank Le Coq Sportif for the partnership and we wish them well in their future endeavours.”
Adidas hinted at the partnership earlier this week through a post on its social media channels, featuring Bafana Bafana players Ronwen Williams and Thalente Mbatha, who both wear Adidas football boots.
The post carried the caption:
“When belief becomes a reality. For the first time since 2010, all roads lead to the 2026 FIFA World Cup for Bafana Bafana.”
This fuelled speculation that Adidas would once again produce the team’s kits — a move that many fans welcomed, recalling the company’s iconic designs from the 2010 World Cup, when South Africa hosted the global tournament.
Sources close to the negotiations confirmed that Adidas outbid Macron, the Italian brand that was also in contention for the sponsorship. At one stage, Macron was confident of securing the contract, but Adidas ultimately clinched the deal following weeks of discussions.
The agreement comes shortly after Bafana Bafana’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following a 3-0 victory over Rwanda. The timing of the announcement makes it a symbolic reunion between South Africa’s national team and one of world football’s most recognizable brands.
For Adidas, this deal also reinforces its presence in African football, as the company already supplies kits for several national teams on the continent, including Egypt and Nigeria.
The partnership will include not only Bafana Bafana, but also Banyana Banyana and other national teams under SAFA’s management, ensuring consistency across South Africa’s football setup.
While financial details of the deal were not disclosed, the agreement reportedly includes provisions for grassroots football support, youth development programs, and future collaborations on community initiatives.
The new Adidas kits are expected to be unveiled before Bafana Bafana’s international fixtures in early 2026, ahead of the World Cup campaign in North America.