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.
Vitória SC Announces Hummel Kit Deal
Vitória Sport Clube has officially announced a new five-year technical sponsorship deal with Hummel, beginning with the 2026-27 season. The Danish sportswear brand will supply the Portuguese club's match kits, training gear, and lifestyle apparel until the end of the 2030-31 campaign. This agreement brings an end to Vitória SC's decade-long partnership with Macron, who had been the club's kit maker since the 2016-17 season.
The club described the new agreement as a "return to the past to project into the future," referencing Hummel's previous stint as Vitória SC's kit supplier during 1992-92.
Boca Juniors 26-27 Shirt + Shorts, Socks & Pre-Match Jersey Leaked
We can leak the full look at the Boca Juniors 2026-27 home kit - it is completed by shorts and socks that match the stripe design of the kit.
SV Austria Salzburg 26-27 Home Kit Released
The new SV Austria Salzburg home kit for the 26-27 season has been officially released today. Made by Capelli, the new shirt will be worn by the club in the Austrian 2. Liga.
The Capelli SV Austria Salzburg 2026-27 home jersey features a bespoke design in the club's traditional colors. It incorporates two different tones of violet and is highlighted by a custom graphic showcasing the Hohensalzburg fortress and the towers of the old town, representing the team's local identity and heritage.
The Capelli SV Austria Salzburg 2026-27 home football shirt is available to purchase immediately through the club's official fanshop, retailing at a price of 69 Euro.
Glentoran 26-27 Home Kit Released
Glentoran and Macron have launched the club's new 2026-27 home kit for the upcoming NIFL Premiership campaign. The design pays homage to the classic 1992-93 shirt worn during their memorable European Cup tie against Marseille, featuring a green body with red sleeves and shoulder panels separated by black trim.
Giving the shirt a distinct early 1990s retro feel, a red fold-over collar is included with black striping and a black V-shaped insert at the front. A tonal graphic pattern runs across both the green and red sections, adding texture to the Macron Eco Fabric. The Macron Hero logo appears in white on the chest and sleeves, sitting opposite the stitched Glentoran crest and its accompanying gold star.
Additional details include the club motto Le Jeu Avant Tout embroidered in white on the back of the collar, and Glentoran FC Est 1882 printed inside the lower hem. Featuring Bet McLean as the main sponsor, the new Glentoran 2026-27 home shirt is completed with matching white shorts and green socks.
Grimsby Town Announces Lotto Kit Deal
Grimsby Town Football Club has officially announced a multi-year partnership with Italian sportswear brand Lotto Sport, who will become the club's official kit supplier starting from the 2026-27 season. Lotto replaces Umbro, whose kits were supplied to the club in collaboration with Kitlocker.
The announcement has been met with a positive reaction from fans, many of whom fondly remember the club's previous stint with Lotto kits in the late 1990s.
While no official images of the new 2026-27 kits have been released yet, supporters are eagerly anticipating the unveiling of the new designs.
Too Basic? Northampton Town 26-27 Away Kit Released
The new Northampton Town 2026-27 away kit was officially launched today, introducing a clean and simple design by Puma. Featuring a classic white and claret colorway, the shirt has drawn mixed reactions from the fanbase, with some praising its timeless simplicity while others feel the look is a bit too basic. The new Puma Northampton Town 2026-27 away kit is available to purchase online and in the club store.