Alongside the spectacle of the official World Cup kick-off, we celebrated the opening of our long-awaited FUSSBALL exhibition at SLEEK Art Space: an evening that reminded us once again that football has never been just a sport. It brings together people from different backgrounds, generations and corners of the world. And that’s exactly what happened.
While guests stopped for a moment in the hallway to take a closer look at the cover reveal of our new SLEEK Issue #89 PLAY, it wasn’t long before the rooms were packed. Familiar faces kept appearing from the crowd, from Kristian Schuller to Casey Spooner, who also stars on the cover of the new issue. Many of those who showed up have been part of beautiful collaborations with us over the years, all coming together to form a colourful sea of suits, World Cup jerseys, vintage football shirts, high heels and leather jackets. All kinds of looks under one roof.
Curated by Nisha Merit, FUSSBALL explores football as something much bigger than the game itself. Through the works of Annique Delphine, Carlo Bellmann, Julius Bauer and Tom Stechert, who were all personally present, the exhibition looks at football as a place where identity, emotion, community and memory meet. Each artist approaches the subject from a different angle, turning familiar symbols and rituals into something that questions the societal stereotypes of football.
The atmosphere throughout the evening was busy in the best possible way. The mood was light, conversations flowed and the evening sun poured through the windows, lighting up the space and our panoramic view across Berlin.
Between catching up with old friends and meeting new faces, guests enjoyed drinks and took their time with the exhibition. As a special finale, we transformed SLEEK Art Space into a public viewing spot for the opening match between South Africa and Mexico. Seeing everyone gather together, find their seats and wait for the first whistle felt surprisingly emotional. For a moment, that familiar World Cup feeling was back. A room full of the SLEEK community, sharing the same anticipation.
If you want to experience it for yourself, FUSSBALL is on view at SLEEK Art Space in Berlin from June 11 until September 3, 2026.
All photography by Arne Schirmer.