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.
Puma 26-27 'Level Up' Boot Pack Released
Puma has officially launched the special-edition 'Level Up' boot pack for the 26-27 season. Drawing inspiration from classic 8-bit video games and retro arcade culture, the collection delivers a distinct aesthetic with pixelated artwork and bright colors across the Ultra Nitro and Future silos.
The Ultra Nitro speed boot comes in an electric yellow base accented with multi-colored 8-bit graphics along the side and soleplate, complete with a pixelated Puma logo. The Future creative boot features a bright blue upper covered in arcade-themed graphics, including pixelated health bars, heart meters, and retro controller details.
As a limited-edition release for the start of the 26-27 season, the Puma 'Level Up' pack will be worn on pitch by select Puma players and is now available at select retailers and online.
Nike Kobe 8 Protro Mambacurial Available Early at Nike AFI
The Nike Kobe 8 Protro Mambacurial has made an early in-store appearance at Nike AFI in Bucharest, weeks before its anticipated global release. First introduced in 2013, the Mambacurial colorway is one of the most iconic crossover designs between basketball and football, drawing direct inspiration from Kobe Bryant's passion for soccer and Nike's legendary speed boot line.
Designed to mirror the classic Nike Mercurial Vapor IX Fireberry colorway, the sneaker features a bright pink and plum gradient upper paired with an Electric Green forefoot Swoosh and matching outsole. The inner medial side retains the massive white NIKE branding that defined the original Mercurial boot aesthetic. Updated to Protro standards, the shoe offers modernized cushioning and traction performance while preserving its original 2013 look.
Following its early availability at select Nike stores, the Nike Kobe 8 Protro Mambacurial is scheduled for an official wider release on September 19, 2026, with a retail price of $200.
Leyton Orient 26-27 Home Kit Released
English League One club Leyton Orient have officially unveiled the 2026-27 home kit. Made by Meyba, the new shirt marks the beginning of the Spanish brand's partnership with the club while bringing back one of Orient's most iconic historic designs.
The Meyba Leyton Orient 2026-27 home shirt features the club's traditional red base with classic white vertical braces, inspired by the famous kits of the late 1970s. Meyba's signature shoulder trim, a centrally placed reflective club crest and subtle embossed crest graphics across the fabric complete the retro-inspired look, while an "East London" inscription appears on the back of the neck.
What do you think of the new Leyton Orient 2026-27 home kit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Tottenham 26-27 Lifestyle Shirt Leaked
Footy Headlines can leak the official images of Tottenham's 2026-27 third lifestyle shirt, featuring an inverted color scheme compared to the club's 2026-27 third kit.
The lifestyle shirt comes in a dark purple base with lighter purple vertical stripes, mirroring the design of the 2026-27 third kit.
Sunderland 26-27 Home Kit Criticized Over Stripe Alignment Flaw
Following the official release of the Sunderland 26-27 home kit by Hummel, supporters and shirt collectors receiving their retail jerseys have highlighted a noticeable pattern alignment issue. Designed as a tribute to the club's historic 1937 FA Cup-winning side, the home shirt pairs traditional red and white vertical stripes with a classic buttoned collar and a retro shield crest. However, close-up photos of physical retail shirts reveal severe stripe misalignment along the upper chest and shoulder seams.
As highlighted by kit content creator @Kitkingdom83 on social media, the vertical stripes on the front body do not align smoothly with the sleeve panels. On both sides of the upper torso, the red body stripes abruptly meet contrasting white panels or cut off diagonally across the raglan seam, creating an awkward visual break right above the Hummel logo and club badge. Fans online quickly agreed with the criticism, pointing out that better pattern matching should be expected for a flagship kit release.
Raglan sleeve construction frequently poses pattern-matching challenges for manufacturers, especially when dealing with traditional vertical stripes. While the overall design concept and historical touches of the Sunderland 26-27 home kit have been well-received, the visible alignment flaws on retail versions raise quality control concerns for Hummel as the club prepares for the upcoming campaign.
Willem II 26-27 Away Kit Released
Willem II and new kit supplier Meyba have officially unveiled the club's new away kit for the 26-27 season. Celebrating Willem II's 130th anniversary, the jersey is designed as a royal tribute to 130 years of club history.
The Meyba Willem II 26-27 away jersey features a rich red base decorated with elegant gold accents. A subtle jacquard pattern woven directly into the fabric features historic club crests from throughout Willem II's 130-year existence. Gold detailing is applied to the collar, sleeve cuffs, main sponsors, and Meyba's signature shoulder taping, while the club crest appears in gold with 1896-2026 written underneath.
Additional details include the anniversary dates 1896-2026 printed on the lower front hem of the shirt. The new away kit will be used during the team's 26-27 Eredivisie campaign.
Adidas Nürnberg 26-27 Away Lifestyle Collection Released
Adidas and 1. FC Nürnberg have officially launched the club's away lifestyle collection for the 26-27 season. Released alongside the new away kit, the retro-inspired range is part of the Adidas Originals line, offering fans off-pitch apparel heavily influenced by classic football heritage.
The collection features a distinct throwback aesthetic highlighted by the classic Adidas Trefoil logo and the iconic 1. FCN crest. Key garments include track jackets, hoodies, t-shirts, and long-sleeve tops styled with color-blocked chest bands and signature three-stripe detailing along the shoulders and sleeves in the club's traditional red, white, and black colors.
Designed to bridge matchday tradition with everyday streetwear, the full 26-27 Adidas Originals collection is available now through the club's online shop and select retail partners.
Jude Bellingham Spotted in Birmingham City 26-27 Home Kit
Jude Bellingham was among the spectators at St Andrew's for Birmingham City's pre-season friendly against Barcelona, wearing the club's new 2026-27 home shirt with his iconic No. 22 on the back.
The Real Madrid midfielder came through Birmingham City's academy before completing a then-club-record £26 million move to Borussia Dortmund in 2020. The transfer played a key role in helping Birmingham overcome a difficult financial period.
Despite spending just one season with the first team, the club later made the unprecedented decision to permanently retire the No. 22 shirt in his honour, cementing Bellingham's status as one of the greatest academy graduates in Birmingham City's history.
