Nike's Pyramid Of Football Kit Sponsorship - Elite, Premium, Standard, Third Party & Not Affiliated
Yesterday, we raised the question whether FC Sevilla should become a new Nike top team, also in order to receive exclusive bespoke kits. Most of our followers think that Nike's treatment for FC Sevilla should be improved. Today we want to take a closer look at which levels of sponsorship Nike has.
Nike Levels Of Football Sponsorship
For Nike directly, there are at least four different tiers of teams - Elite , Premium, Standard & Third Party. There is also a fifth level, of which Nike is not responsible - clubs that buy their shirts themselves.
Nike's Pyramid Of Teams - Elite, Premium, Standard & Third-Party
Elite Teams - 10 Clubs - (e.g. FC Barcelona, Liverpool, AS Roma):
Nike Elite Teams are on the brand's highest level. They include the giants like Barca, Liverpool and PSG but also teams such as Roma, Inter and Leipzig [even though they are bit below them in terms of money & marketing, logically].
Nike Elite Teams:
Atletico, Barcelona, Chelsea, Galatasaray, Inter, Leipzig, Liverpool, PSG, Roma and Tottenham.
Premium Teams - More Than 20 Clubs - (e.g. Eintracht Frankfurt, Zenit):
Premium teams are on the second level of Nike's pyramid. Premium Teams get custom kit designs (most times home & away only), streamlined pre-match shirts and some custom lifestyle / training gear.
Nike Premium Teams (Examples): Eintracht Frankfurt, Zenit, Hertha BSC, Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Steaua Bucharest, Venzia, Corinthians, Spartak, Sparta Prague, Ferencvaros, Club America
Standard Teams - Dozens Of Clubs - (e.g. Brighton, Sevilla)
Standard teams have a direct contract with Nike but get no bespoke designs - they mostly receive kits with custom color combos.
Nike Standard Teams (Examples): FC Sevilla, Young Boys, Brighton, Maccabi Haifa, Vitesse, Utrecht
Third Party - Hundreds Of Clubs - (e.g. FC Augsburg & 1860 Munich):
Third Party teams have no direct contract with Nike but with a third-party, who manage contracts for Nike in those countries. These teams get no bespoke kits from Nike ever.
The third-party deals are often managed by local retailers. In example, many German Nike deals are managed by 11teamsports, while those of English teams for teams likey Birmingham & Portsmouth are managed by Just Sport.
Nike Third Party Teams (Examples): FC Augsburg, Hansa Rostock, Bochum, 1860 München, Birmingham, Portsmouth, Livingston, FC Eindhoven
Non-Affiliated Nike Teams - Thousands of Clubs:
Teams who buy their shirt themselves and choose - possibly more than hundred thousand worldwide.
National Teams
We did not include any national teams in our list - of course, the same applies for the nations sponsored by Nike.
Elite National Teams (Examples): USA, England, Nigeria, South Korea & Portugal
Premium National Teams (Examples): Slovakia, Turkey, Slovenia, Norway
Do you agree with "our" pyramid of Nike sponsorship? Would you sign with Nike as middle-class first division club if you would get only custom colors? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Newcastle United 26-27 Home Kit Spotted for Sale Again
The Adidas Newcastle United 2026-27 home kit has once again been spotted on sale in stores, suggesting that its release date is fast approaching. Thanks to @NUFCgallowgate.
Club America 26-27 Away Kit Leaked - Authentic Version
Footy Headlines can now leak 7 new pictures of the Club America 26-27 away kit, in authentic version. Although it is a fake, the design is identical to the real one.
The kit incorporates a retro aesthetic with the use of the Trefoil logo in metallic silver-grey and a vintage version of the club crest featuring only the "CA" initials
NFL-Style Nike England 2026 Kit
England has released an official crossover jersey in collaboration with the NFL and Nike. The England x NFL Nike Game Road Jersey uses the classic NFL design, with the iconic silhouette reworked using England details and the team's traditional red and white colours.
This piece forms part of a broader national teams x NFL collection and provides supporters with a distinct take on England football apparel in an American football-inspired format.
Peterborough United 26-27 Home Kit Released
Peterborough United have launched their 2026-27 home kit, made by Puma. This marks the first time the shirt features the club's updated crest as part of a broader rebrand for the new season in League One.
The design maintains the traditional royal blue colorway with a prominent crossover ribbed crew neck collar. Official club branding, sponsor logos, and Puma detailing complete the look.
The launch includes a campaign video narrated by director of football Barry Fry emphasizing the start of a new era for the club.
Pink Real Madrid 26-27 Third Kit Leaked - Long-Sleeve Version
Footy Headlines can leak the long-sleeve version of the pink Real Madrid 26-27 third kit. Although it is a fake, the design is identical to the real one.
The kit features a bold, dark pink base, officially bringing the striking color back to the club's lineup for the first time in six years. It features a tonal geometric pattern inspired by Latin American artistry.
Lyon 26-27 Home Kit Leaked - 6 New Pictures
Footy Headlines can now leak 6 new pictures of the Adidas Lyon 26-27 home kit. Although it is a fake, the design is identical to the real one.
The Lyon 26-27 home kit is inspired by the club's 1996-97 home shirt, featuring a white base and blue raglan sleeves.
The kit includes a central vertical stripe split into red and blue, with a negative space forming the silhouette of Lyon's coat of arms, and gold detailing on the collar and cuffs.
Nike Mercurial Cryoshot Street-Style Shoes -Mercurial Ronaldo's 1998 Inspired
Nike is introducing the Cryoshot line to transform some of its iconic football boots into everyday lifestyle sneakers. One of the first models adapts the classic Mercurial Vapor R9, the boot worn by Ronaldo during the 1998 World Cup.
The design preserves the original boot's upper while adding a transparent TPU midsole housing that reveals the stud pattern underneath. This approach draws from cryogenic preservation concepts to create a modern street-ready shoe that honors its on-pitch roots.
Argentina’s World Cup 2026 Group Stage Kits
The three kits Argentina will wear during the group stage of the 2026 World Cup have been outlined following the draw and kit allocation details. The Albiceleste will open against Algeria and face Austria in the traditional home kit, paired with navy shorts and matching socks. Big thanks to @marcadegol.
⚪🔵 🆚 🇩🇿: Home Kit & Navy Shorts & Socks
⚪🔵 🆚 🇦🇹: Home Kit & Navy Shorts & Socks
⚫🆚 🇯🇴: Away Kit & Black Shorts & Socks
