Borussia Dortmund to break FIFA kit rules at 2025 Club World Cup? Dual sponsor twist after PSG’s font and logo fiasco

Just a few games into the tournament, attention has veered away from the pitch and toward a wave of kit-related controversies.

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup was expected to be groundbreaking for its expanded format and elite competition. But just a few games into the tournament, attention has veered away from the pitch and toward a wave of kit-related controversies—from custom fonts tied to pop stars to an unprecedented dual-sponsor situation involving Borussia Dortmund.

One of Europe’s biggest clubs may end up doing something unheard of in modern soccer: wearing two different shirt sponsors in the same tournament. Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain are under scrutiny after wearing kit numbers bearing the “XO” logo associated with global music icon The Weeknd, raising eyebrows over potential breaches of FIFA’s rigid equipment rules.

Dortmund’s dual sponsorship dilemma

Borussia Dortmund is facing a sponsorship situation that would be comical—if it weren’t so real. Due to the precise timing of contracts with both their outgoing sponsor, Evonik, and new partner, Vodafone, the club is caught in a legal grey zone during the Club World Cup’s schedule.

“The new partnership with Vodafone begins on July 1, 2025, while Evonik’s deal ends on June 30,” a source close to the club told Footy Headlines. “Because of this, Dortmund must wear Evonik-branded kits for all matches in June, and Vodafone-branded kits for any games they play in July.”

Here’s the strange twist: all group matches are set to be completed in June. So, if Dortmund finish second in their group, the Germans will play their first knockout game on June 30, still wearing Evonik. But if they top their group, their next match won’t come until July 1, meaning they’ll switch to Vodafone.

That would result in a mid-tournament sponsor switch, something rarely—if ever—seen in top-level soccer. Should Dortmund progress further, Vodafone would remain the primary shirt sponsor through the rest of their campaign.

PSG tests FIFA’s kit rules

While Dortmund deals with sponsor timing, Paris Saint-Germain has drawn attention for an entirely different reason: they took the field in the Club World Cup with a special number font that included The Weeknd’s “XO” logo.

“The ‘XO’ mark appeared on the bottom-right corner of the numbers on PSG’s kits,” reported Footy Headlines. “This seems to clash with FIFA’s equipment regulations, specifically Article 7.2.7, which prohibits any association of kit numbers with third-party trademarks.”

The collaboration with The Weeknd is part of PSG’s global branding strategy, but the presence of the “XO” logo could represent a violation of FIFA’s kit guidelines, which emphasize that numbers must be free from sponsorship or third-party affiliations.

Whether the Champions League winners received special permission or simply decided to take the risk remains unclear. FIFA has yet to issue a formal statement, but the logo’s inclusion has sparked debate over how strictly FIFA enforces its own regulations—especially in high-profile tournaments involving elite clubs.

Eiffel tower star: Another PSG curiosity

And it doesn’t stop there for PSG. The French champions also debuted a gold star in the shape of the Eiffel Tower above their crest—a non-traditional symbol meant to commemorate their first-ever UEFA Champions League title.

According to FIFA’s rulebook, stars on club kits are generally allowed if they represent domestic or continental achievements and are used consistently across competitions. But the regulations typically refer to “five-pointed stars” as standard.

“The FIFA Equipment Regulations do allow stars for continental wins,” explained Footy Headlines. “But the Eiffel Tower shape deviates from the norm. We’re unsure if PSG received explicit approval or if they modified their club crest to include the shape permanently.”

Photos taken just three days before the tournament did not include the star, adding to the mystery and raising further questions about whether FIFA is loosening its grip on what used to be strictly enforced aesthetic rules.