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.
Rosario Central 26-27 Third Kit Released
Rosario Central and Le Coq Sportif have officially launched the club's new third kit for the 26-27 campaign. Named "La Calesita," the jersey completes a special collection celebrating the centenary of the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, paying tribute to the ground's architecture and the vibrant atmosphere created by the club's supporters.
The Le Coq Sportif Rosario Central 26-27 third shirt moves away from traditional blue and yellow stripes in favor of a deep dark petrol base, accented by bright yellow paneling along the shoulders and sleeves. Running vertically down the front is a perspective graphic inspired by stadium seating, creating an expanding vanishing point that evokes the scale of the Gigante de Arroyito and the sweeping movement of the famous "calesita" banners hung by the fans.
Crafted from Jacquard polyester fabric, the jersey is finished with a two-tone V-neck collar, high-definition embroidered club crests, and a specialized authenticity seal that reveals UV-reactive Le Coq Sportif details. Dark petrol shorts and vibrant yellow socks complete the new Rosario Central 26-27 third kit.
Reggina 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
Italian club AS Reggina 1914 and technical partner Givova have officially unveiled the club's new home, away, and goalkeeper kits for the 26-27 season. Drawing profound inspiration from the historical landmarks and archaeological heritage of Reggio Calabria, each shirt tells a distinct story rooted in local identity.
The Reggina 26-27 home kit arrives in the club's traditional amaranto shade, decorated with an intricate geometric graphic on the front panel inspired by the ancient Roman Baths of Reggio Calabria. Givova's white logos sit on the chest and sleeves, matching the kit's clean numbering and completing an all-amaranto look with coordinating shorts and socks.
For the away strip, Givova delivers a predominantly white design accented by an amaranto collar, side panels, and sleeve trim. The front of the shirt features subtle vertical band patterns drawn from the ornate mosaics at the Roman Villa of Casignana, accompanied by a retro 1990s-style club badge. Completing the set, the goalkeeper kit stands out in vibrant green, adorned with claret details and a striking circular motif portraying Calabria's traditional apotropaic masks.
Adidas Flamengo 26-27 EQT Collection Released
Adidas and Flamengo have officially launched the club's new Equipment (EQT) retro collection, making the Rubro-Negro the first Brazilian club to receive the iconic line. Inspired by the brand's seminal 1991 and 1992 aesthetics, the 1990s-themed capsule ditches the modern CRF monogram in favor of Flamengo's historic rowing crest with crossed oars and an anchor, placed alongside the classic Adidas Trefoil text logo. The lifestyle collection features five pieces including a color-blocked windbreaker jacket, crewneck sweatshirt, track pants, and graphic t-shirts in the club's signature red, black, and white color scheme.
Go Ahead Eagles 26-27 Third Kit Released
Dutch Eredivisie club Go Ahead Eagles and technical sponsor Stanno have officially unveiled their new third kit for the 2026-27 season. Named "Our Holy Waters," the design serves as a thematic companion to this season's "Our Holy Ground" home and away jerseys, shifting the focus to the club's deep connection with the IJssel river.
The Stanno Go Ahead Eagles 26-27 third shirt is built around an off-white base with fine vertical pinstripes running down the front. The centerpiece of the design is a detailed historic cog ship illustration across the torso, celebrating the Hanseatic maritime history of Deventer. Rich forest green decorates the folded collar and sleeve cuffs, complemented by gold trim and "GAE" lettering embroidered on the collar insert. Sponsor logos and branding appear in a metallic copper-bronze shade, alongside a recolored green and gold club crest.
Matching off-white shorts with green side piping and socks featuring the club's eagle crest complete the full kit. The Go Ahead Eagles 2026-27 third kit is available to purchase immediately through the club's official online store.
EFL Trophy Set to Become 'Jersey Mike's Trophy'
The EFL Trophy is set for another commercial rebrand, with American fast-food chain Jersey Mike's Subs closing in on a record-breaking title sponsorship agreement. The English Football League is finalizing a five-year contract worth approximately £5 million to officially rename the competition the Jersey Mike's Trophy.
The landmark partnership represents the most lucrative commercial deal in the history of the tournament. Participating clubs from League One and League Two, alongside invited Category One academy sides, will benefit from boosted prize money, starting with an initial pool of around £900,000 this season. The agreement directly supports Jersey Mike's major expansion into the UK and Ireland, where the US brand plans to roll out up to 400 store locations.
This move adds yet another chapter to the competition's long lineage of commercial title sponsors. Most recently titled the Vertu Motors Trophy, the tournament has previously operated under numerous memorable names, including the Papa Johns Trophy, Checkatrade Trophy, Johnstone's Paint Trophy, and the nostalgic LDV Vans Trophy.
No More Predator? Pedri Spotted in Next-Gen Adidas adiPURE Whiteout Prototype Boots
FC Barcelona and Spain midfield maestro Pedri has been spotted testing a whiteout prototype of the all-new Adidas adiPURE boots. Following Bayern Munich center-back Jonathan Tah, who stepped out in test pairs earlier this month, Pedri is now the most high-profile Adidas athlete seen taking the unreleased silhouette out onto the pitch.
The sighting comes as Adidas prepares to bring back the revered adiPURE silo for 2027, officially phasing out the Copa series to establish adiPURE as the brand's primary touch-and-leather boot alongside the Predator and F50. The next-generation adiPURE is engineered to combine classic heritage with modern speed, incorporating a plush Pureleather forefoot, a lightweight technical mesh quarter, a free-floating tongue, and a redesigned Adiframe soleplate.
While Pedri has been one of the central figures representing the Predator line, even rocking his personalized "Predri" signature branding, he has occasionally flirted with Copa models during training in previous seasons. Testing the whiteout prototype strongly indicates that Adidas might be positioning the Spanish technician as the premier ambassador to spearhead the revived adiPURE range ahead of its official debut in early 2027.
Steven Bergwijn Wears Unreleased Nike Kobe Mercurial Boots
The Nike Mercurial Mamba soccer cleats are set to be launched on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
