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.
FIFA Changes Brazil Goalkeeper Kit for Scotland Match
FIFA has implemented a late change to Brazil's goalkeeper kit for their 2026 World Cup Group C encounter with Scotland. Initially slated to wear a red outfit, the Brazilian goalkeeper will now wear green for the match on June 24.
The reasons for the switch are not known.
Official match kit graphics confirm the switch, showing the Brazil goalkeeper in a dark green jersey, paired with matching dark green shorts and socks. This green kit is one of the primary options in Brazil's wardrobe for the tournament. Their opponents, Scotland, will have their goalkeeper dressed in a grey kit.
The update was brought to attention by Brazilian kit specialists Mantos do Futebol. The released FIFA match kit table visually confirms the swap from the originally planned red Nike goalkeeper shirt to the green alternative, alongside the outfield kits of both nations.
Nike Creates Personalized Mercurial Superfly 11 Boots for Kylian Mbappé's France Goal Record
Nike has presented Kylian Mbappé with a personalized pair of Mercurial Superfly 11 boots to celebrate his record as France's all-time top goalscorer. The special edition boots were created to commemorate his milestone of 58 goals for the national team, a record he reached ahead of his 100th cap.
The bespoke boots feature several unique design elements to honor his achievement. The number 58 is prominently displayed on the lateral heel, accompanied by a small French tricolor flag positioned near the heel collar. Additionally, the sole plate is completely customized in the colors of the French flag, adding a distinct national touch to the standard Mercurial Superfly 11 silhouette.
Mbappé debuted the new boots during the match vs Iraq. As a custom creation specifically designed to mark his record-breaking achievement, the personalized boots remain exclusive to the player and will not be available for public retail release.
Nara Club 26-27 Kits Released
Japanese J3 League side Nara Club have officially released their new 2026-27 kits, produced by Squadra. The new shirts feature a bespoke design centered around the concept "God Deer Pulse" (神鹿の鼓動), paying homage to the sacred deer of Nara.
The collection includes home, away, and goalkeeper kits that all utilize the same thematic template with intricate graphic patterns across the body.
Pre-sales for the new Nara Club 2026-27 kits began on June 22.
UCAN Enters Europe: FC Volendam 26-27 Home Kit Released
The new FC Volendam 2026-27 home kit has been officially released, marking the first foray into the European market for the club's new technical sponsor, UCAN, a Chinese brand.
The design pays tribute to local culture, serving as an ode to Volendamse schilderkunst (Volendam painting art) with a unique graphic pattern incorporated into the traditional orange base. The FC Volendam 2026-27 home kit is available to purchase through the club's official fanshop and webshop.
Adidas Celebrates Messi Breaking the All-Time World Cup Goalscoring Record
Lionel Messi has officially become the all-time leading goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history, netting his 17th goal in Argentina's match against Austria on June 22, 2026. To celebrate this historic milestone, Adidas immediately published a dedicated graphic on their social media channels, crowning their signature athlete with the caption RECORD BREAKER. HISTORY MAKER. The goal moves Messi past Miroslav Klose's long-standing record of 16 World Cup goals.
The achievement comes just days after Messi scored a hat-trick earlier in the tournament to tie the record. During this historic 2026 World Cup run, Messi has been wearing the Adidas F50 'El Último Tango' signature boots.
Burgos CF 26-27 Away Kit Released
The new Burgos CF 2026-27 away kit was officially released today. Made by Macron, the new Burgos Club de Fútbol 2026-27 away jersey introduces an elegant design featuring a black base combined with gold accents and a subtle crown motif referencing the club's tradition.
A special detail on the back of the neck reads the honorific city motto, "Hay un oro que no se compra... se hereda" (There are values you can't buy... you inherit them), completing the classy look for the Spanish La Liga 2 side.
European National Teams Reimagined With Germany Home Shirt Template
Football kit account @The_Kit_Parade has reimagined various European national teams using Germany's 2026 World Cup home shirt template.
The graphic applies the distinct pattern to countries including England, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Sweden. While the design adapts seamlessly to neutral and white bases, with the Irish, Dutch, and Welsh concepts receiving particular praise from fans, others like the Spanish edition proved more divisive due to clashing colors.
Official Images: Al Hilal 26-27 Home Kit Leaked
New images of the Al Hilal 2026-27 home kit have been leaked, giving us a better look at the design for the upcoming Saudi Pro League season. The images, originally shared by @a_z055 and @MidanAlAtqam, reveal the official jersey the players will be wearing on the pitch.
Made by Puma, the Al Hilal 2026-27 home jersey features the club's traditional blue base color. The design incorporates a subtle graphic design.
The Puma Al Hilal 2026-27 home shirt is expected to be officially launched in the coming weeks ahead of the new campaign.
1. FC Köln 26-27 Home Kit Spotted for Sale
The first-ever Adidas 1. FC Köln 2026-27 home kit has been spotted for sale ahead of its expected launch on July 1, 2026. Images shared by our partners @insidemueng confirm classic design featuring a V-neck collar and fine tone-on-tone stripes across the front.
The new shirt incorporates embroidered logos, including a notably smaller Rewe sponsor logo, and is finished with subtle black accents. This marks the beginning of the club's new partnership with Adidas starting from the 2026-27 season.
