Puma and the Italian Football Association (FIGC) announced a long-term contract extension to the current agreement, which was originally started in January 2003.

Under the agreement, Puma will remain the technical sponsor of all on-field, sideline, training, and representation apparel and equipment to the associated Men’s ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘U21’, ‘U19’, ‘Youth’, and ‘Futsal’ national teams, as well as Women’s ‘A’, ‘U21’ and ‘Youth’ National Teams beyond the 2014 World Cup Finals.

“The announcement of the long-term strategic partnership with the Italian Football Association underlines Puma’s reinforced commitment to further strengthen its position as one of the leading football brands,” said Jochen Zeitz, CEO and chairman of Puma AG, and continued: “The Italian National Team, more than any other national team property in world football, perfectly embodies Puma’s unique sportlifestyle positioning and we are delighted about the extension of this already successful collaboration.”

This announcement coincides with the introduction of the new 2006 Italy National Team away kit designed by PUMA in collaboration with Neil Barrett. The away kit will make its debut in a friendly against Holland in Amsterdam on November 12th and will also be worn by Gli Azzurri in a friendly game against fellow Puma team Ivory Coast on November 16th in Geneva.

Italy, whose honors include three FIFA World Cup titles (1934, 1938 & 1982), a UEFA European Championship title (1968) and one Olympic Gold medal (1936), has qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany securing first place ahead of Group 5 qualification contenders Norway, Scotland, Slovenia, Belarus and Moldova.

In addition to the contract extension, Puma also launche the 2006 Italian National Team Away Kit designed in collaboration with Neil Barrett. The away kit made its debut in a friendly against Holland in Amsterdam on November 12th.

For his second Italian National Team kit design, Barrett’s signature styling of clean lines, slim tailoring, and layered garments come to the forefront. A deep v-neck revealing the new FIGC badge on an azzuri blue underlay creates a statement look for the team. The distinctive styling of the white v-neck creates a sophisticated, yet understated feel. This deep v-neck technique also hints at the team’s new 2006 home kit to be released on March 1st.

“Launched under the tag ‘Italians Look Better,’ the kit embodies the charisma of the team,” said Filip Trulsson, Puma teamsport business unit manager. “Italians are known for their inherent style and we think it’s a necessity to maintain this essence of fashion when creating the football kit for the team. Through Barrett’s vision and our internal design talent, we are continually able to deliver a performance kit with unique visual interest and appeal.”

Over the past two years, Neil Barrett has worked closely with PUMA’s design team merging the brand’s technical sport integrity with his fashion sensibility. All of the garments, from the playing kit to the team apparel, utilize proven functional materials and cut lines to provide optimum performance. The shirt introduces a new groundbreaking woven rip-stop fabric, specially developed for PUMA in close co-operation with Toray Textiles and Manchester Metropolitan University.The woven fabric is extremely lightweight, carries outstanding wicking properties and has limited stretch to prevent shirt pulling.

In addition to the playing kit and selected team wear, a new FIFA-approved ball will be launched for the Italian National team – the v1.06. Introducing a new-patented panel concept based on a verified geometrical approach, this construction secures the roundest, most technically advanced ball on the market. Continuing with PUMA’s patented dimple technology, the new v1.06 ball delivers more speed, more distance and improved trajectory.