Adidas is turning to Formula 1 technology to help footballers handle the extreme conditions expected at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The sportswear giant has unveiled its new CLIMACOOL SYSTEM, a cooling solution designed to lower body temperatures in hot and humid environments.
The technology was originally developed to help Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One drivers manage intense cockpit heat before being adapted for football.
Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The CLIMACOOL SYSTEM consists of three separate components: a cooling vest, an insulating jacket and a cooling overshoe. Together, they are designed to help players lower their body temperature before taking to the pitch.
With temperatures expected to exceed 30°C in several World Cup host cities, adidas believes the system could play an important role in player preparation.
The company says the technology has already been tested with clubs including Manchester United, Arsenal and Juventus.
The vest contains a specialised frozen gel that slowly thaws while being worn. Adidas says the accompanying jacket traps cold air around the body and almost doubles the cooling benefit provided by the vest alone.
According to the company, the combined system can reduce core body temperature by up to 0.5°C and lower skin temperature by as much as 13°C. The cooling overshoe is also designed to reduce foot temperature by 2°C within seven minutes without affecting a player's ability to pass, shoot or dribble.
Those figures are particularly relevant given the conditions expected across North America during the tournament. Several host cities are likely to experience high temperatures and humidity levels throughout the competition.
The company says the project was developed over multiple years and evolved through collaboration with elite football clubs.
What began as a solution for Formula 1 drivers was gradually adapted to meet the specific demands of professional football.
The cooling system forms part of adidas' wider World Cup product range. The company has also introduced federation kits featuring CLIMACOOL+ materials and the latest version of its Connected Ball Technology ahead of the tournament.
Whether the technology delivers a measurable competitive advantage remains to be seen. However, adidas clearly believes that managing heat could become one of the defining challenges of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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