Adidas Futurecraft 3D: Will We Soon See the First 3D Printed Football Boot?
Oct 8, 2015, by Chris
Adidas yesterday unveiled what they called the future of performance footwear with the Futurecraft 3D, a "unique 3D printed midsole for running shoes which can be tailored to the cushioning needs of an individual's foot". What's this all about?
The Adidas Futurecraft 3D Concept Running Shoe is part of the 'Futurecraft series', a new initiative lead by Adidas that "places open source collaboration and craftsmanship at the heart of design" to change the production of performance footwear forever.
Adidas Futurecraft 3D Concept Running Shoe
This is the Adidas Futurecraft 3D Concept running shoe.
Designed to offer individualized support and cushioning for every foot, the Adidas Futurecraft 3D running shoe will take the running shoe standard to the next level, claims Adidas. What makes Adidas so confident that Futurecraft 3D is the running shoe revolution?
The ambition of the 3D-printed running shoe is that athletes can visit an Adidas store, running on a treadmill and instantly getting a personalized 3D-printed running shoe that perfectly fits their needs.
"Futurecraft 3D is a prototype and a statement of intent. We have used a one-of-its-kind combination of process and material in an entirely new way. Our 3D-printed midsole not only allows us to make a great running shoe, but also to use performance data to drive truly bespoke experiences, meeting the needs of any athlete," said Eric Liedtke, Executive Board Member of adidas AG, responsible for Global Brands.
But what's even more important for us is the question if there will ever be personalized football boots using Adidas Futurecraft 3D.
Will Adidas Use Futurecraft 3D For Football Boots
Adidas announced that the first running shoe is not the end of the story, but the first chapter of the Adidas Futurecraft series, which "demonstrates the brand's commitment to innovating throughout all areas of production".
Additionally, the German brand revealed that they will announce more groundbreaking designs in the coming six months. So it's well possible that Adidas will reveal a football related product made using 3D-printed technology.
In fact, Nike released the world's first 3D-printed performance sports bag ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Made exclusively for Neymar Jr., Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, the Nike Football Rebento duffle bag introduced a 3D printed base, inspired by the sole plates of the Nike Magista Obra and Nike Mercurial Superfly.
"Futurecraft is our sandbox. It is how we challenge ourselves every day to explore the boundaries of our craft. Driving material and process innovation, bringing the familiar into the future. Marrying the qualities of handcrafting and prototyping with the limitless potential of new manufacturing technologies. Futurecraft is stripped back – fast, raw and real – it is our approach to design," said Paul Gaudio, Creative Director, adidas.
What is certain is that 3D-printed hardware offers unprecedented levels of customization for any kind of products, including football boots.
FC Famalicão 26-27 Third Kit Released
Portuguese Primeira Liga club FC Famalicão have officially unveiled their new third kit for the 26-27 season. Branded under the club's "100% Famalicão" initiative and carrying the concept "Famalicão, o Centro do Norte" (Famalicão, the Center of the North), the shirt celebrates the city's geographical importance and rich industrial heritage. For the second consecutive season, the special alternative jersey has been produced exclusively in partnership with local textile manufacturers from the Famalicão region.
The Puma FC Famalicão 26-27 third shirt combines a clean light mint-green base with refined metallic gold accents. Inspired by the 1940s Manoel de Oliveira documentary film dedicated to the municipality, the jersey features intricate map-like line patterns that converge on a central compass emblem, representing Famalicão's role as a historic crossroads and hub in northern Portugal. A centered club badge adorned with a golden wreath, a gold bwin front sponsor, and coordinating gold trim along the round collar and sleeve cuffs complete the design.
Matching mint-green shorts and socks with gold details round off the full strip. The new FC Famalicão 26-27 third kit is now available through the club's official stadium store and online shop.
A Look at Football Broadcast Scorebugs Across Major Competitions
On-screen graphics have become an integral part of modern football broadcasting, directly shaping how supporters digest match details and information. A comparison shared by sports media creator @Braylon_Breeze brought together 16 distinct scorebugs featured across contemporary broadcasts, highlighting the diverse visual identities adopted by major leagues and networks. From the clean, vertical arrangements of Ligue 1 and La Liga to the horizontal bars used across UEFA club competitions, the overview captures the differing design philosophies currently on display.
While all scorebugs serve the fundamental purpose of presenting the scoreline, match clock, and team colors, their execution varies considerably. Tournaments like the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and the Premier League opt for streamlined horizontal strips with strong contrast and subtle tournament branding. In contrast, competitions such as the Bundesliga and Ligue 1 utilize distinctive square or stacked formats, while Apple TV's presentation for MLS embraces extreme minimalism by stripping away ornate design elements in favor of a low-profile look.
The side-by-side comparison sparked lively discussion among fans regarding legibility versus graphic flair. Supporters often single out the high readability of the Bundesliga and Champions League graphics for praise, while bulkier or more generic designs frequently draw criticism. As broadcast networks and leagues continue to overhaul their visual packages season after season, scorebugs remain one of the most prominent and scrutinized design pieces in televised football.
Swiss Brand "On" Prepares Official Entry Into Football Boot Market
Swiss sportswear company On is taking its first official steps into football. Renowned globally for its high-performance running footwear and rapid expansion across tennis and athletics, the brand has begun teasing its venture into the world's most popular sport with dedicated football channels. This move follows reports earlier in 2026 indicating that On is preparing to challenge established giants like Nike, Adidas, and Puma by bringing its innovative production methods, including its robotic LightSpray upper technology, to football cleats.
The groundwork for On's football expansion has been developing behind the scenes for several months. The brand initially signaled its interest by partnering with young Swiss international Sydney Schertenleib to co-develop training and lifestyle products. As the Swiss company readies its debut boot models, speculation regarding marquee athlete endorsements has also accelerated, fueled by persistent industry rumors linking top-tier players to potential landmark deals with emerging market disruptors.
Early concepts and design previews indicate that On will translate its clean, technical aesthetic and seamless upper constructions directly onto the pitch. While technical specifications, launch timelines, and the official player roster for the upcoming 26-27 period remain tightly guarded, On's arrival represents one of the most fascinating shifts in the modern football footwear landscape.
Adidas Originals Liverpool EQT Collection Released
Liverpool FC and adidas Originals have officially released a brand-new retro collection heavily inspired by the iconic adidas Equipment (EQT) era of the 1990s. Following earlier heritage drops, this new lifestyle capsule leans fully into the bold aesthetics of vintage nineties teamwear, combining a sharp black and EQT green colorway with oversized retro design elements.
The centerpiece of the range is a retro-inspired shirt crafted with subtle tonal vertical stripes, bold diagonal block stripes extending across the shoulders, and centered vintage logos featuring the classic 1990s Liverpool crest and adidas Trefoil wordmark. Alongside the jersey, the apparel collection includes a woven track jacket, half-zip top, crewneck sweatshirt, graphic t-shirts, and track pants, spanning unisex, women's, and kids' sizes.
The new adidas Originals Liverpool EQT collection is available immediately through the official Liverpool FC online store, club retail locations, and the official LFC Store app.
Central Coast Mariners 26-27 Home, Away & Third Kits Released
A-League side Central Coast Mariners have officially unveiled their new home, away, and third kits for the 26-27 season. Made by Australian brand Konqa in their debut A-Leagues collection following their Australia Cup release earlier this winter, the entire set is designed around the identity of the region, carrying the theme "inspired by the sand, the tide and the character of the Coast."
The 26-27 home kit represents the sand, sticking to the club's traditional bright yellow base complemented by navy accents. Across the front and back runs a subtle horizontal wave graphic reminiscent of ripples on the beach, completed by a ribbed navy-and-yellow crew collar and matching sleeve cuffs. In contrast, the away kit symbolizes the ocean's tide, featuring a navy foundation highlighted by electric blue vortex rings radiating outward from around the club crest.
Completing the trio, the sky blue third kit embodies the coast with a sublimated repeating palm tree graphic. The pattern draws directly from the iconic palm trees lining the bayside stadium in Gosford, paired with subtle Art Deco design elements. All three kits feature Polytec as the primary front-of-shirt sponsor and will be worn by both the men's and women's teams throughout the 26-27 campaign.