Closed Stores, "Crashing Stocks", Postponed Launches - How The Coronavirus Pandemic Affects Adidas, Puma & Nike
On Tuesday, UEFA announced that the UEFA EURO is postponed to 2021 due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. With the decision, the hope of both clubs and fans arose that the domestic and international club competitions could be completed until June 30, even though without spectators most likely. The Coronavirus Pandemic nevertheless already had big impact on the business of all involved in soccer, especially the brands and clubs.
Coronavirus Pandemic - Impacts On Brands And Clubs
Postponed EURO & Copa America
With the EURO and Copa America postponed to 2021, it is safe to assume that brands will generate less sales with the kits. However, those sales could be recuperated next year. The Olympics are also anything but certain to take place this year, another big uncertainty for all involved. from players over brands to fans.
Closed Stores
In many countries worldwide, all stores not critical for infrastructure and daily needs had to be closed. Adidas, Nike and Puma all announced that they will close stores for at least around two weeks.
With love, Your Nike Family pic.twitter.com/IRqkOyXgX6
— nikelondon (@nikelondon) March 15, 2020
Shopping online is still possible, and with delivery from warehouses not affected yet players can still get their gear...
Falling Stocks of Brands And Soccer Clubs
The Coronavirus Pandemic has heavily hit stock markets. The share prices of almost all companies collapsed, with those of sporting goods companies like Adidas, Nike and Puma losing almost 50 %, meaning that the companies have almost lost half of their previous market value.
The stocks of soccer clubs like Borussia Dortmund and Juventus both nearly halved in the past month.
Switch Of Kit Supplier During Season?
With the 2019-2020 season almost certainly has to be extended beyond the regular dates, we could see some kit supplier switches that happen during the season. In example and most famously, Liverpool's contract with New Balance runs only until May 31. If the Premier League season runs until mid-June, Liverpool would likely switch to Nike jerseys during the season.
I imagine it will change, the contracts will have dates, not down to season. For example, in South America the new kits drop half way through the season. Boca is a prime case. Also, Man Utd wore Nike gear in preseason before changing to adidas.
— Marcus Dilley (@MDill38) March 14, 2020
Other club's contract, including those with players and brands, usually run until June 30. So if the season would end before that date, there won't be many problems.
Delivery Problems
Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, there already have been some delivery difficulties for teams. In example, Düsseldorf has some delivery issues with an upcoming special-edition jersey, while USL club Oklahoma City Energy FC released their third kit instead of their home and away.
Nothing about the big 2020-2021 releases and the production of the kits has been announced by any brand officially yet. Adidas, Puma and Nike usually start the production of next season's (2020-21) around March. Most kits are produced in far East, including countries like China that have been heavily affected by the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Postponed Releases
As of now, we think it is already certain that many of the scheduled 2020 international kit releases will be postponed, at least until an end or at least an improvement of the Coronavirus Pandemic is in sight.
Do you think that football matches will be played without spectators in the near future? Do you think that the football business will fully recover from the Coronavirus Pandemic? Will some clubs go bankrupt? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Nike Cryoshot Tiempo Legend R10 'Ronaldinho' Shoes Leaked
Nike will launch a special signature edition of the new Cryo Shot Tiempo Legend for Ronaldinho for the 2026-27 season. Thanks to sneaker source @sneakermarketro and @vladieboi, we can share official images of the Nike Cryo Shot Tiempo Legend R10 'Ronaldinho' boots, which are scheduled to drop in the summer of 2026.
The Nike Cryo Shot Tiempo Legend R10 'Ronaldinho' features a white and metallic gold colorway, directly inspired by the 'Touch of Gold' Tiempo boots originally worn by the Brazilian player. The cleats sport a white quilted upper complemented by metallic gold accents on the Swoosh, stitching, and the classic fold-over tongues, which feature the signature R and 10 branding. This modern Cryo Shot edition blends the heritage design with a new clear-coated sole unit that encases the studs.
The Nike Cryo Shot Tiempo Legend R10 'Ronaldinho' soccer cleats will be available to purchase in Summer 2026.
Emiliano Martinez to Wear Special Adidas Predator Gloves for 2026 World Cup
Emiliano "Dibu" Martinez will sport a special edition of the Adidas Predator goalkeeper gloves during the 2026 World Cup. The new gloves have been specifically designed to match the colors of Argentina's home goalkeeper kit for the tournament.
The official Argentina national team account shared images of the goalkeepers in training, highlighting the special Adidas Predator gloves. The design perfectly complements the Argentina 2026 home goalkeeper jersey, creating a unified look for the reigning World Cup champion.
Argentina 2026 World Cup Squad Portrait Photos Released
The official squad portraits for the Argentina national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup have been released, giving us a first real look at the special gold sleeve badge. As previously reported, former World Cup-winning nations will wear an exclusive gold-themed patch on their right sleeve during the tournament, setting them apart from the rest of the competing teams.
In addition to the striking gold sleeve patch, the Adidas home kit features the golden 2022 FIFA World Cup champions badge prominently on the center of the chest.
England 2026 World Cup Match Boots Stolen in Kansas City
The England national team has suffered a major setback ahead of their 2026 World Cup campaign, as the match boots of several top players were stolen from a transport van. The incident, first reported by Craig Hope and Jack Gaughan for the Daily Mail, has left the squad's staff scrambling to secure replacements before their first training session in Kansas City on Saturday.
In addition to the players' custom footwear, the thieves also made off with nearly all of the team's training footballs, reportedly leaving just a single ball behind. The logistical nightmare means kit managers and equipment staff must now work rapidly with their respective brands to supply the squad with new boots in time for their opening matches of the tournament.
Awesome: Leeds United 26-27 Home Kit Concept Based on Leaked Bayern München Away Kit
A stylish Leeds United home kit concept has caught the attention of fans online. Created by Leeds supporter and graphic designer @ZK1919, the concept directly adapts the design of an Adidas FC Bayern away kit, transforming it into a Leeds home shirt.
The concept features the classic Adidas Trefoil logo and integrates Leeds United's front-of-shirt sponsor, Red Bull. To match the club's traditional colors, the designer swapped the original red accents for yellow and outlined the Red Bull logo in blue. The concept also sparked discussions among supporters regarding the exact shade of yellow, the choice of the club badge, and the potential constraints of Red Bull's corporate branding rules on future kits.
While purely a fan-made design and not an official leak for the 2026-27 season, it highlights the potential of an Adidas Trefoil Leeds kit. The actual Leeds United 26-27 home kit has been very unpopular ahead of its release.
Bayern München 26-27 Away Slides Leaked
We can leak images of Adidas Bayern München slides, revealing a design mirroring by the club's upcoming away kit.
The slides feature a white base and a textured strap showcasing the traditional FC Bayern München e.V. crest. As 2026-27 away kit's color palette, the strap is accented with Adidas' signature three stripes in a distinct navy, red, and navy combination.
2026 World Cup Sleeve Patches Guide Revealed
FIFA is introducing an updated sleeve patch system for all national teams competing in the 2026 World Cup. Now, an official document confirms which kit goes with which kit.
The seven former World Cup-winning nations will wear exclusive gold-themed patches on their right sleeves, while the rest of the teams will use standard black-and-white versions. Additionally, the left sleeve patch will update dynamically, changing for every matchday during the group stage and continuing to update for each knockout round from the round of 32 through to the final.