Why Germany's national kit is white despite it not being a colour on their flag

Germany's national kit is white despite the colour not appearing on their flag - but there is a very good reason for it.

The German football team are among the most the successful in history, with four World Cup triumphs and three European Championship victories.

They will be looking to add another international honour to the list with the 2026 World Cup in North America and will tie Italy on five wins if they manage go all the way.

Germany will once again be sporting their iconic white home shirt made by Adidas, who made their kits for all four of their World Cup wins.

But it will be for the last time as Germany have agreed a lucrative €100 million deal from Nike from 2027.

The white kit will remain but given it is not present on the black, red and gold flag, why is that the primary colour?

It turns out that is because the colour of the flag of Prussia, is white. Prussia was a German state which was created in 1525 and spanned from the modern day border of Russia to the border of France.

28 years after forming the German empire in the unification of German states, the German football team was set up and started playing in Prussian colours.

The state was disbanded in 1918 following on the November Revolution at the end of World War I, it was decided that the football team would continue to keep white as its main kit colour.

When Germany was divided and East Germany were an official FIFA recognised national team between 1951 and 1990, they played in blue but had a white away kit.

Germany have switched between white and black shorts over the years and it remains to be seen the approach Nike will take after ending Adidas' long-standing arrangement in controversial fashion.

Germany wear white even though it is not on their flag. Image: Getty

Politicians have slammed the German Football Association's (DFB) decision to change suppliers as many cannot see a world where their kits are not manufactured by three-striped brand.

Germany are back in action on Thursday when they take on Italy, another nation whose kit adopts a colour not seen on the flag, in the UEFA Nations League quarter-final.