What Is Kit Authentication?

Kit authentication is the process of checking whether a football shirt is authentic, accurate, and matches what it claims to be. In a world full of fakes, mislabels, and template-based confusion, authentication helps collectors, fans, and buyers make more informed decisions.

At its core, authenticating a kit can be boiled down to asking a simple question:

Does this shirt match the details it’s supposed to have?

That can include:

• The product code on the label
• The materials, stitching, and construction
• The design compared to official references
• Whether it was actually used in that season, or if it’s a replica, remake, or fake

Why it matters to us

Football kits are more than just clothing. They represent history, a shared identity, culture and sometimes even an investment. Whether you're buying for your collection, selling, or just making sure you didn’t get ripped off, authentication gives you confidence that you're getting the product you paid for.

We are avid collectors ourselves, but when going online the market is literally inundated with fakes. Communities of kit enthousiasts are overflowing with people asking "is this a legit kit". After seeing one too many fake shirts on websites like Vinted we decided to try and do something about it.

The goal of kitcod.es

Kitcod.es is designed to be an easily accessible first step in the authentication process, and a tool we hope becomes second nature for anyone trying to figure out what they're really looking at. It doesn't aim to replace expert eyes or physical checks, but it helps answer one of the most important questions right away:

Does this product code actually belong to the real kit?

After answering that question, the platform also aims to educate and provide deeper brand-specific guidance, thanks to community input and growing historical records. A lot of that research can be found in the docs section you're currently reading.

The inevitable disclaimer

This tool is intended as an aid for verifying football kits based on available data but should not be considered a definitive judgment. Kit authenticity can be complex, and discrepancies may exist. We recommend conducting further research, consulting official sources, and exercising caution when making purchasing decisions.

• It's not always definitive even a valid product code can appear on a fake shirt.
• It’s not meant to replace high-end authentication services.
• It’s not only about what’s fake, but also confirming what’s real.