What's Up with the Upper of the Adidas Ace 17+ PureControl?
Nov 28, 2016, by Pat
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.
Al-Duhail SC 26-27 Away Kit Released
Qatar Stars League club Al-Duhail SC has officially unveiled its new Puma away kit for the 26-27 season. The shirt features a light gray base highlighted by an abstract, distressed grey brushstroke graphic running down the front. Adding a touch of elegance, metallic gold accents appear on the crew collar trim, sleeve cuffs, underarm panels, and all sponsor logos, including Al Rayan Bank and Qatar Duty Free, alongside a monochrome gold Al-Duhail crest and a white Puma cat logo on the chest.
Massive Price Differences on Adidas Originals Aston Villa 26-27 Collection
Following the launch of the new Adidas Originals Aston Villa collection, fans have spotted notable price discrepancies across different retailers for identical items. The standout piece of the range, a long-sleeve claret and sky blue retro jersey featuring classic Trefoil branding and gold detailing, went on sale for £70 on Aston Villa's official online store, while JD Sports priced the exact same shirt at £90, representing a steep £20 markup.
The inconsistencies are not limited to just the retro shirt. Supporters quickly noticed uneven pricing across several other items in the lifestyle range, including track jackets and graphic tees. The official club store charged more than third-party retailers - such as a track top listed at £100 on the club site compared to £85 at JD Sports - while other items saw JD Sports and Adidas's own direct store pricing significantly above the club shop.
Bold Reading FC 26-27 Third Kit Released
Reading FC and technical partner Macron have officially released the club's new third kit for the 2026-27 season. Billed by the club as a modern reimagining of a title-winning classic, the striking new strip takes strong inspiration from the Royals' memorable 1992-93 third uniform while incorporating a contemporary festival-inspired aesthetic.
The Macron Reading 2026-27 third shirt stands out with a bright yellow base overlaid with bold red horizontal hoops created in a distressed, hand-painted brushstroke style across the front, back, and sleeves. The fabric also features a subtle tonal geometric weave. It is finished with a smart black fold-over collar with thin red detailing, black sleeve cuffs, and a small crown graphic on the back of the neck honoring the club's royal heritage.
Cape Town City 26-27 Away Kit Released
Umbro and South African side Cape Town City FC have officially unveiled the club's new away kit for the 2026-27 season, which celebrates the 10th anniversary of the club.
The Umbro Cape Town City 26-27 away jersey features a pale grey-green base decorated with an all-over tonal graphic that blends subtle vertical textures with abstract contours across the front, back, and sleeves. Darker green detailing highlights the monochrome club crest, the Umbro Double Diamond logo, and the SportPesa front sponsor. Layered green and off-white striping finishes the round neckline and sleeve cuffs, complemented by perforated fabric zones built into the body and sleeves for added breathability.
Commemorating a decade of the club, a special circular 10-year anniversary badge is placed near the lower hem, featuring the dates 2016-2026, anniversary text, and a prominent number 10. The kit is completed with matching pale green shorts and coordinated socks accented with dark green trim.
Al-Duhail 26-27 Away Kit Released
Qatari side Al-Duhail have officially unveiled their new away kit, made by Puma and to be worn in the upcoming 2026-27 Qatar Stars League season.
The design uses the classic color combination of white and gold, where white plays the predominant role on the base of the kit. The shirt features a unique grey grunge graphic, along with gold club crest and brand logo to create an interesting look.
What do you think of the Al-Duhail 26-27 away kit from Puma? Let us know in the comments below.
Calcio Lecco 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
Italian Serie C club Calcio Lecco 1912 and technical sponsor Acerbis have officially unveiled the club's new home and away kits for the 26-27 season. Both designs place a heavy emphasis on local pride, drawing direct inspiration from the landscapes of Lake Como and the surrounding Lecco territory.
The Acerbis Calcio Lecco 26-27 home shirt stays true to tradition with the iconic bluceleste vertical stripes in light blue and navy, layered with subtle wave-like textures across the dark stripes. Navy shorts and socks complete the primary strip. Meanwhile, the 26-27 away jersey presents a clean white base paired with a classic polo collar and sky blue shoulder trim. The lower half of the away shirt showcases a striking line-art graphic illustrating the Grigna and Grignetta mountain profiles together with Lecco's landmark "Matitone" bell tower from the Basilica of San Nicolò.
Cantine Pirovano features prominently on the front of both jerseys, marking their 16th consecutive season as the club's main sponsor. Complementing the outfield shirts, Acerbis has also introduced vibrant green and yellow goalkeeper kits for the 26-27 campaign.
Calcio Foggia 1920 26-27 Away Kit Released
Italian Serie C club Calcio Foggia 1920 has officially revealed its new away kit for the 2026-27 season. Produced by Nike Teamwear, the shirt follows the recent unveiling of the club's fluorescent yellow third kit after parting ways with Givova.
The Nike Calcio Foggia 26-27 away jersey is based on a clean white base, accented with the club's signature rossoneri colors along the top of the shoulders and sleeves. Running vertically down the center of the chest is an intricate graphic formed by the names of iconic city landmarks, including the Teatro Giordano, Arco di Federico II, and Fontana del Sele.
A poignant tribute is placed inside the inner collar, featuring the names Gaetano, Michele, Samuel, and Samuele in memory of the four young supporters who tragically lost their lives in 2024. The upper back is finished with the motto "IO SONO FOGGIA", accompanied by the circular Satanelli badge on the chest, a black Nike Swoosh, and multiple sponsor logos across the front, sleeve, and lower back.
No More Tiglon: Azuro US Monastir 26-27 Home and Away Kits Released
Tunisian Ligue 1 side US Monastir has officially revealed its new home and away shirts for the 2026-27 season. The launch marks the club's first collection under new kit supplier Azuro, which takes over from Tiglon.
The US Monastir 26-27 home kit delivers a strong blue-and-white look, featuring a white base with a prominent central vertical stripe in vibrant blue, matched by blue panels across the shoulders and sleeves. Elegant gold trim along the collar and sleeve cuffs rounds off the design. In contrast, the 26-27 away jersey adopts a more understated, modern palette of black and anthracite, highlighted by a dark tonal center stripe and crisp white piping on the collar and sleeves.
Photographed across Monastir's historic landmarks and coastal scenery, both shirts feature the club crest on the chest alongside monochrome sponsor applications on the front.
US Lusitanos Saint-Maur 26-27 60th Anniversary Home & Away Kits Released
French Championnat National club US Lusitanos Saint-Maur and kit supplier Skita have officially unveiled the club's new home and away kits for the 2026-27 season. The launch marks the 60th anniversary of the club, which was founded in 1966 by Portuguese immigrants in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés.
Both shirts directly take inspiration from an iconic vintage design from the club's past. The home shirt comes in traditional green, while the away shirt is white. Each jersey features an eye-catching red and green geometric brick graphic across the upper chest and shoulders, paired with a classic white polo collar highlighted by green and red trim.
To mark the milestone, the upper back of the shirts displays the Portuguese and French flags alongside the commemorative text '1966-2026 SOMOS A HISTORIA'. The home kit is completed with white shorts and red socks, while the away strip features green shorts and white socks.