Nick Woltemade Interview - World Cup 2026, Adidas and Football Fashion

Nick Woltemade and the New Shape of Football Culture

written + interview KLAAS HAMMER

Nick Woltemade is hard to miss. There is the 6-foot-6 frame, of course, and the unusually light feet for a player of his size. Now at Premier League side Newcastle United, the young German international is part of the national team heading into the World Cup, which kicks off on June 11 across Canada, Mexico and the United States.
In conversation with LE MILE, he reflects on fan culture, the growing overlap between football and fashion, and what it means to arrive on the game’s biggest stage.

adidas Originals Germany EQT Bringback Collection

adidas Originals Germany EQT Bringback Collection

Klaas Hammer
A lot of fans see you as approachable and authentic. Do you notice that a community is starting to form around you? And when you hear chants like “Woltemade Ole Ole Ole” in Newcastle, what does that feel like?

Nick Woltemade
It’s something that has grown over the past year, and even more since I moved to England, where the fan culture is a bit different. I’ve always loved fashion, and I’d say it’s a little easier to express that in England than in Germany. People seem more open to it. I enjoy experimenting and finding my own style. Since not many footballers do that yet — compared to basketball, for example — it probably stands out more with me. But I’m happy when people respond positively to it — both football fans and people beyond the sport.

Footballers used to be seen mainly as athletes. Today, many of them also move through culture, fashion and entertainment. Do you feel that shift yourself?

Yes, I do. You can see it in the way football is consumed now — everything has become bigger, more professional, more visible. At the same time, fashion and sport are moving closer together. It feels cooler, more open, more relatable. We’re doing some really nice projects with adidas, and I’m happy to have them as a partner. Clubs are becoming more open to it as well. Newcastle, for example, are very open to new ideas and modern developments. A lot of it probably comes from basketball, especially the NBA, which is much further ahead in that sense. I don’t know if football will go in exactly the same direction, but the industry is definitely evolving. People are starting to understand that how you dress off the pitch has nothing to do with how you perform on it. At the end of the day, what matters is the performance on the pitch.

Has there been a moment with a fan that stayed with you — something that reminded you how emotional football can be for people?

My personal life has definitely changed, especially over the past year since I’ve been playing in England. Even when I was on holiday in New York, people recognized me and wanted pictures, which I hadn’t expected at all. In Bremen, my hometown, it’s probably the most relaxed. People know I’m at home there, so they also respect my privacy there. But the kids are always special.
When you see how much it means to them, and that you can make their day or even their week just by taking a picture or signing an autograph, that still means a lot. You do get used to it in some ways, but I always try to remind myself what it might mean to the fans.

The adidas FIFA World Cup 2026 Germany EQT Collection begins with the 1990s. There are the football codes, of course, and the Equipment clarity that made tracksuits, shoulder stripes and colour blocks feel inseparable from the game. Reworked through the colours of the German national team, the collection brings back the kind of football style that starts before kick-off, outside the stadium, in the crowd and on the way home.

adidas Originals Germany EQT Bringback Collection

adidas Originals Germany EQT Bringback Collection

When you think about your development as a player and as a person, who has shaped your style the most — on or off the pitch?

In football terms, Kai — Kai Havertz — was my role model, but I don’t really want to say that now because he’s here with the national team too and we play together (laughs). As a person, I always thought Neymar was cool, but football-wise, his style is completely different from mine. I’m also very tall, so there haven’t been many players in my position I could really compare myself to.
That’s why I never really had one specific role model.

Football and fashion are more connected than ever. What role does fashion play for you, and where do you look for inspiration?

I’m a huge NBA fan, and I watch a lot of the tunnel fits. I think Shai Alexander is really cool — he’s definitely my favorite player to watch in terms of style.

The World Cup is football’s biggest stage. What does it mean to be part of it for the first time?

I’ve answered this a few times now, but somehow it’s still hard to find the right words. It’s such a huge thing. It’s always been a dream, something I imagined for myself, something I always wanted to achieve. And when you’re actually in that moment and think about it, it’s still difficult to fully grasp. I still don’t think I can describe it in a way that really does it justice. I’m very, very proud, and I think everyone in the team feels that. But it’s not something you can easily put into words.

What are you hoping for from the World Cup — on and off the pitch?

I’m not a big fan of expectations, because if you don’t meet them, you’re always left disappointed. I usually try to keep an open mind and let myself be surprised by what happens. But obviously, I want to achieve the best possible results for the team and for myself. I want to play, I want to score goals, and I want to be successful with the team.

adidas Originals Germany EQT Bringback Collection

adidas Originals Germany EQT Bringback Collection

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photographer SIMEON ASENOV
styling KLAAS HAMMER
make up and hair LISA FALK
talent NICK WOLTEMADE
models NINA IMERI + SAM THEIN + ALBAN IMERI + JOSHUA FEES
production coordination ALBAN E. SMAJLI
thanks to adidas + ALBINA IMERI