What's Up with the Upper of the Adidas Ace 17+ PureControl?
It's time to speak more about the confusion that is the Adidas Ace 17+ PureControl and its different uppers.
As you might have noticed over the last few days and perhaps already before the official launch, not just Paul Pogba, but ALL professionals are wearing a sort of prototype / sample of the Adidas Ace 17+ PureControl - one that's almost nothing like the one that hit retail and was dubbed a "16.5" by some.
An interesting perspective on the whole situation is offered by Unisport's JayMike who recently said that he hopes that the Ace 17+ PureControl will get updated before its eventually replaced by the Ace 18+. Now, this could just be his inner boot nerd speaking, but it would be extremely naive to assume that a person in his position would voice something along those lines without knowing at least something.
Another point in favor of an update of the Ace 17+ PureControl upper at one point is the fact that all leaked colorways feature the second upper. If Adidas had settled on reverting to the 16+ upper for whatever reason, one would assume that later samples, for example for the Fall / Winter 2017 period, would be based on the definitive upper by now.
All in all, we are fairly certain that we'll see the Ace 17+ PureControl's real look instore sooner than later. Possibly already with January's Checkered Black edition. If you cannot wait to try out what the pros are wearing, you should probably give the 'Tango' rendition of the Ace 17+ PureControl, available with turf and indoor outsoles, a try. By the looks of it, its upper is identical to the earlier leaks of the cleated edition, i.e. what the professionals are wearing.
So why is so important for Adidas to update the upper? First, it's kind of odd to release a boot that's virtually unchanged and branding it as a whole new edition - or at least that's what people could feel in this situation. Additionally, we believe it's important that players are not advertising boots that have almost nothing in common with what they are wearing on the field, as e.g. Paul Pogba is doing currently. We feel that this could hurt Adidas reputation with time.
There are also a number of more practical reasons to update the upper. For one, there where a few critics of the initial laceless PureControl boots voiced concerns about the fit being too loose in general - an update could help resolve this. Also, the 16+ PureControl's upper construction, while getting rid of laces, added a second compression techfit layer. It looks like the 'real' Ace 17+ PureControl upper is just one layer, which could offer a better connection with and improved feel for the ball.
What do you think? Share your thoughts on the Ace 17+ PureControl upper controversy in the comments below.
Fujieda MYFC 26-27 Kits Released
Japanese J2 League club Fujieda MYFC have officially unveiled their new 2026-27 kits, produced by sportswear brand Gol. Designed under the theme "Merge," the new shirts symbolize the fusion of the ball, boots, players' spirit, fans, and partners uniting for the upcoming season. The collection features bespoke graphic patterns across the home, away, and goalkeeper jerseys, with sponsor logos cleanly integrated throughout the designs. The new Fujieda MYFC 2026-27 kits will be available to purchase starting in late June 2026 via the official J.League online store.
Matsumoto Yamaga 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
Japanese J3 League club Matsumoto Yamaga FC have revealed their new 2026-27 home and away kits. The new Adidas Matsumoto Yamaga 2026-27 shirts introduce bespoke designs for the club.
Como 1907 Announce Kit Design Contest
Italian club Como 1907 has launched a new design contest, inviting fans and designers to create a new look for the team. While the official announcement asked supporters to design a t-shirt for Como, it is likely that the club is referring to a football kit, given the context of the post and the reactions from the fanbase.
The club has kept the instructions incredibly open, stating there is no brief, no rules, and no excuses. To enter the competition, fans simply need to create their design, post it on Instagram, and tag the official Como 1907 account.
The announcement has already sparked significant interest online, with numerous supporters sharing their concepts and ideas. Whether the winning design will be produced as an official match kit, a pre-match shirt, or a special edition lifestyle item remains to be seen, but it offers a unique opportunity for fans to leave their mark on the club's visual identity.
FIFA Denies Guillermo Ochoa 2026 World Cup Legacy Patch Over Appearance Rules
Guillermo Ochoa has been denied the chance to wear FIFA's new legacy patch at the 2026 World Cup. Despite being selected for six World Cup tournaments spanning from 2006 to 2026, the Mexican goalkeeper does not meet the strict criteria set by FIFA. The governing body requires players to have made on-pitch appearances in at least five different World Cups to qualify for the special badge.
Ochoa did not play any minutes during the 2006 and 2010 tournaments, meaning he has only registered on-pitch appearances in three World Cups prior to the 2026 edition. Because of this, FIFA officially refused to award him the patch. Other veterans playing in the tournament, such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Manuel Neuer, and Yuto Nagatomo, have received the legacy patch for meeting the five-tournament appearance threshold.
The Mexican Football Federation is reportedly planning to push for a reconsideration of the ruling. If Ochoa features in a match during the 2026 tournament, the federation intends to appeal FIFA's decision in hopes of securing the legacy patch for the veteran goalkeeper.
Yokohama FC 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
Japanese J2 League club Yokohama FC have officially released their new Puma 2026-27 home, away, and goalkeeper kits. The new Yokohama FC 26-27 shirts feature an abstract graphic design that represents flow and movement across all the jerseys. The home jersey is predominantly blue, while the away kit is white. The goalkeeper kits complete the collection in red and yellow colorways. The Puma Yokohama FC 2026-27 kits are available to purchase via the club's online store.
