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.
US Concarneau 26-27 Home Kit Released
French Championnat National club US Concarneau have officially unveiled the 2026-27 home kit. Made by Hummel, the new shirt celebrates the club's 115th anniversary since its foundation in 1911.
The Hummel US Concarneau 2026-27 home shirt features a classic blue base with elegant gold detailing on the collar, sleeve cuffs, Hummel logo and sponsor branding. Beneath the club's traditional anchor crest, a gold ribbon bearing the inscription "115 vloaz" ("115 years" in Breton) pays tribute to the club's milestone anniversary.
What do you think of the new US Concarneau 2026-27 home kit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
FC Bayern München 26-27 Third Kit Leaked - Official Pictures
Official images of the Adidas FC Bayern München 26-27 third kit have leaked via @Bundesleaker, offering a full look at the striking new uniform.
The Bayern München 2026-2027 third kit features a navy base with a unique all-over pattern and orange-red Adidas logos.
The kit's pattern contains hidden references to four iconic events in Bayern München's history, though the specific events are not immediately apparent.
The full kit is completed with matching patterned shorts and dark navy-purple socks featuring coral accents. Adidas is expected to officially unveil the Bayern München 26-27 third kit in the coming weeks ahead of the new season.
No More Adidas After 13 Years: Wales Teased Sudu Kit Deal - Announces Tomorrow
FAW has just shared a teaser image hinting that it will announce a new partnership with SUDU, bringing its 13-year collaboration with Adidas to an end. The deal will be officially announced tomorrow, August 7.
SUDU takes over as the Official Technical Kit Supplier across all Cymru national teams under a vertical commercial model that integrates design, manufacturing, and direct retail.
Nike Como Women's 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
FC Como Women and Nike have officially unveiled their home and away kits for the 26-27 Serie A Femminile season. Continuing the club's distinct approach to kit design, the new collection pairs athletic performance with fashion-inspired details.
The 26-27 home shirt arrives in white and features an intricate, subtle diagonal chain-link graphic pattern inspired by jewelry. It includes a centrally aligned circular crest with a black Nike Swoosh positioned directly underneath, creating a clean, modern aesthetic.
The away jersey mirrors the design approach in a monochrome black style. It incorporates the same subtle diagonal chain graphic, complemented by white piping along the shoulder seams, central branding, and the APay E-WALLET sponsor logo on the front.
Bishop Auckland 26-27 140th Anniversary Kit Released
English Northern Premier League Division One East club Bishop Auckland have officially unveiled the 2026-27 140th anniversary kit. Made by O'Neills, the special shirt celebrates 140 years since the club's foundation in 1886.
The O'Neills Bishop Auckland 2026-27 140th anniversary shirt features a clean white base with elegant gold detailing throughout, including the collar, sleeve cuffs and logos. A monochromatic gold club crest is accompanied by the inscription "Celebrating 140 years 1886-2026", while additional anniversary details on the back include the club's hashtags and a "1886 Founded" graphic, completing the commemorative design.
What do you think of the new Bishop Auckland 2026-27 140th anniversary kit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Young Africans SC 26-27 Home, Away & Third Kits Released
Tanzanian Premier League champions Young Africans SC have officially launched their new home, away, and third kits for the 26-27 season, manufactured by local brand GSM. The new home jersey arrives in classic green featuring a subtle textured pattern (obviously stolen from Adidas 2022) and vertical slogan detailing alongside gold accents on the collar, crest, and SportPesa sponsor. The away kit boasts a bright yellow base with a dynamic black dashed pattern across the front, while the third kit offers a sleek black look completed with a prominent gold vertical stripe running down the left side of the shirt.
SD Huesca 26-27 Away Kit Released
SD Huesca and Spanish brand Soka have officially launched the club's new away kit for the 26-27 season. The design pays direct tribute to the city of Huesca, drawing inspiration from municipal symbolism and the local flag.
The jersey features a predominant green base decorated with a subtle, tonal geometric pattern running throughout the body. Red trim lines the collar, sleeve cuffs, and shoulder seams, adding sharp contrast to the overall design. Completing the kit, the SD Huesca crest, Soka logo, and main sponsor branding are all presented in bright yellow, incorporating all the official colors of the city.
SV Tasmania Berlin 26-27 Home Kit Released
SV Tasmania Berlin has officially released its new home kit for the 26-27 season. The traditional Berlin-based club from Neukölln presents a refreshed look as they prepare for their upcoming regional campaign.
The 26-27 home jersey incorporates the club's iconic identity into a classic teamwear template. Combining traditional colors with modern styling details, the shirt offers a clean and athletic aesthetic for matchdays at the Werner-Seelenbinder-Sportpark.
The SV Tasmania Berlin 26-27 home kit is now available through official club channels.
Cercle Brugge 26-27 Away Kit Released
Belgian Pro League club Cercle Brugge and Puma have officially launched the new Cercle Brugge 26-27 away kit. The new shirt is available starting August 6, 2026, online and at the Jan Breydel Fanshop.
The Puma Cercle Brugge 26-27 away jersey introduces a sleek white design detailed with asymmetric vertical pinstripes across the front. The right side features bright green double lines, while the left side uses black double lines. A bright green club crest is positioned on the left chest, accompanied by a black Puma cat logo on the right.
Matching white shorts and white socks complete the clean full ensemble for Cercle Brugge's 26-27 away kit.
CD Egabrense 26-27 Home, Away & Third Kits Released
Spanish Tercera Federación side CD Egabrense, officially known as Hélity Club Deportivo Egabrense, has revealed its new kit collection for the 26-27 season. Designed by sportswear brand Alexen, the line-up brings custom designs to the historic Córdoba club.
The CD Egabrense 26-27 home shirt stays true to the club's traditional rojinegro identity. It features a red base with subtle tonal vertical stripes, offset by black sleeves, collar trim, and matching black shorts and socks.
Completing the set, the club also presented white-based second and third kits featuring green and red accents. These alternate designs draw direct inspiration from local roots and municipal symbols.
Hajduk Split 26-27 Away Kit Released
HNK Hajduk Split and Adidas have officially unveiled the club's new away kit for the 26-27 season. Drawing inspiration from Hajduk's red and blue heritage that dates back more than a century, as well as away strips from the late 2000s, the design combines a retro aesthetic with modern styling.
In a clear visual shift from previous seasons that featured vertical stripes, the Hajduk 26-27 away jersey features broad horizontal red and navy blue hoops across the body. Off-white accents appear on the crew-neck collar, the shoulder three-stripes, the monochrome Hajduk Split crest, and the Tommy front sponsor logo.
The complete kit includes navy blue shorts and socks, finishing off a classic look for the Croatian club's upcoming matches.
Bayern Munich Unveil Special Dragon Font for Hong Kong Pre-Season Match
FC Bayern Munich has revealed a special-edition nameset for their 26-27 home kit, created specifically for their pre-season Audi Summer Tour match against Aston Villa in Hong Kong. The one-off design updates the back of the home shirt as part of the German champions' pre-season tour activities across Asia.
The centerpiece of the special lettering is an intricate golden dragon motif incorporated directly into the numbers on the back of the jersey. While the dragon artwork decorates the numbers, the player names and top FC Bayern text retain the standard white colorway. In addition, the kit features a match detail inscription reading Audi Summer Tour 2026 placed centrally on the chest between the adidas logo and the club crest.
This limited-edition Hong Kong font is not receiving a wide global release. Instead, Bayern Munich is offering the special print exclusively through their local pop-up stores and authorized partner locations in Greater China during the tour.