FC Köln and hummel Unveil 25/26 Third Kit Inspired by Cologne Cathedral

In a landmark collaboration, 1. FC Köln and hummel have released the 25/26 third shirt, celebrating 77 years of the club and 777 years of Cologne Cathedral. The kit draws design elements directly from the historic landmark, with a portion of sales supporting the cathedral’s preservation.

A Historic Collaboration

The 25/26 third kit is the result of a partnership with the Kölner Dombauhütte, the official authority responsible for the cathedral’s construction and preservation. FC Köln and hummel worked closely with the Dombaumeister (master builder) to incorporate the building’s architecture, history, and symbolism into the shirt’s design.

Koln 16 Min

Koln 14 Min

Design Inspired by the Cathedral

Gothic window tracery, the “Dicker Pitter” bell, stone gargoyles, and slender columns that define the cathedral’s silhouette have been reinterpreted and woven into the fabric. The result is a design that balances sacred heritage with modern street-ready aesthetics.

FC Managing Director Philipp Liesenfeld said: “The Cathedral means connection and tradition. The Cathedral means home. It is the symbol of Cologne. The Cathedral carries the city far beyond its borders – and now, we wear it.”

Koln 15 Min

Koln 13 Min

A Collector’s Item with Purpose

The shirt comes in a collector’s box that includes explanations of the cathedral’s design elements, turning the unboxing into an educational experience. A portion of each sale goes to the ZDV, helping preserve Cologne’s iconic landmark for future generations.

Cathedral master builder Peter Füssenich noted: “777 years of the Cologne Cathedral and 77 years of 1. FC Köln – two monuments of the Cologne soul. One built of stone, the other of passion.”

A Shared City Icon

The bond between FC Köln and the cathedral runs deep. The cathedral appears in the club’s crest. After the club’s first German championship in 1963, a stone billy goat was added to the cathedral’s exterior. Two footballers in stone watch over its walls, and each season begins with a service inside the nave, where the FC anthem echoes under the vaulted ceilings.

The 25/26 third kit extends that connection onto the pitch, uniting the roar of the Südkurve with the chime of the “Dicker Pitter.”

Koln 12 Min