Nike Recycles European Football Shirts For Their 3 Japanese Outlets
Update: Since Nike has launched all 3 home jerseys for their Japanese football teams it is now certain what everybody was already able to observe. Previously, our leaks indicated that this was bound to happen again. Nike's 3rd Japanese team, Kashima Antlers, received a mainly red home jersey with blue accents and white sponsor logos that features a subtle 'X' on the front.
Although it might not seem familiar at first glance because of the subtle application this graphic was recycled and previously used for Wolfsburg's 2020-21 home jersey. Wolfsburg is experimenting with a striking 'X' on the front of their home shirts since a few years, while this is a first for Kashima Antlers.
The Japanese club claims that "the novel front graphic expresses the moment when the deer horns and swords meet with an "X", and the dots arranged so that the "X" stands out create a sense of dynamism.
Original European Looks vs Recycled J League Jerseys
Having recently launched their new 2021 home kit, which we first showed you all the way back in March, Urawa Red Diamonds have stated that the patterend design draws inspiration from the roof of the Saitama Stadium.
Curiously, the exact same style of pattern also appeared on the Spartak Moscow 20-21 home kit, which was released back in August. The Russian club stated in the press release that the design was based on the shape of the Spartak crest, while the diamond shape also reflected the "brilliant history" of the club.
While all of this of course makes sense and a certain similarity exists between the "inspiration" and design, it would be better if Nike actually designed bespoke graphics for these teams - they have millions of supporters combined, after all.
In the case of Spartak, the club use a similar but bespoke pattern as the background for their website - surely Nike could have created something along those lines for the kit.
It's not the first time that Nike has "recycled" templates or graphics for its "second-tier" clubs. Something similar has happened with Eintracht Frankfurt and Sanfrecce Hiroshima, whose home kits also share the same graphic.
Frankfurt stated that the design was inspired by the historic Römer (city hall), where the club traditionally celeberate title wins with the supporters.
As for Sanfrecce...
"The 2021 season uniform is inspired by the triangle associated with Hiroshima and expresses Sanfrecce Hiroshima's powerful football style with the concept of a dynamic triangle. In addition, the dynamic feeling and speed of the three arrows, which is the identity of the club, are designed with digital graphics and purple gradation."
Let's just say that the inspiration appears to derive mostly from the Frankfurt city hall.
In any case, while none of these kits look bad, we would love to see Nike take a more unique approach for its "smaller" teams - similar to what Macron or Umbro are doing for example. It would certainly lend further credibility to the brand's claims about creating more unique designs and relying less on templates.
What are your thoughts on this situation? Comment below!
Fujieda MYFC 26-27 Kits Released
Japanese J2 League club Fujieda MYFC have officially unveiled their new 2026-27 kits, produced by sportswear brand Gol. Designed under the theme "Merge," the new shirts symbolize the fusion of the ball, boots, players' spirit, fans, and partners uniting for the upcoming season. The collection features bespoke graphic patterns across the home, away, and goalkeeper jerseys, with sponsor logos cleanly integrated throughout the designs. The new Fujieda MYFC 2026-27 kits will be available to purchase starting in late June 2026 via the official J.League online store.
Matsumoto Yamaga 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
Japanese J3 League club Matsumoto Yamaga FC have revealed their new 2026-27 home and away kits. The new Adidas Matsumoto Yamaga 2026-27 shirts introduce bespoke designs for the club.
Como 1907 Announce Kit Design Contest
Italian club Como 1907 has launched a new design contest, inviting fans and designers to create a new look for the team. While the official announcement asked supporters to design a t-shirt for Como, it is likely that the club is referring to a football kit, given the context of the post and the reactions from the fanbase.
The club has kept the instructions incredibly open, stating there is no brief, no rules, and no excuses. To enter the competition, fans simply need to create their design, post it on Instagram, and tag the official Como 1907 account.
The announcement has already sparked significant interest online, with numerous supporters sharing their concepts and ideas. Whether the winning design will be produced as an official match kit, a pre-match shirt, or a special edition lifestyle item remains to be seen, but it offers a unique opportunity for fans to leave their mark on the club's visual identity.
FIFA Denies Guillermo Ochoa 2026 World Cup Legacy Patch Over Appearance Rules
Guillermo Ochoa has been denied the chance to wear FIFA's new legacy patch at the 2026 World Cup. Despite being selected for six World Cup tournaments spanning from 2006 to 2026, the Mexican goalkeeper does not meet the strict criteria set by FIFA. The governing body requires players to have made on-pitch appearances in at least five different World Cups to qualify for the special badge.
Ochoa did not play any minutes during the 2006 and 2010 tournaments, meaning he has only registered on-pitch appearances in three World Cups prior to the 2026 edition. Because of this, FIFA officially refused to award him the patch. Other veterans playing in the tournament, such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Manuel Neuer, and Yuto Nagatomo, have received the legacy patch for meeting the five-tournament appearance threshold.
The Mexican Football Federation is reportedly planning to push for a reconsideration of the ruling. If Ochoa features in a match during the 2026 tournament, the federation intends to appeal FIFA's decision in hopes of securing the legacy patch for the veteran goalkeeper.
Yokohama FC 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
Japanese J2 League club Yokohama FC have officially released their new Puma 2026-27 home, away, and goalkeeper kits. The new Yokohama FC 26-27 shirts feature an abstract graphic design that represents flow and movement across all the jerseys. The home jersey is predominantly blue, while the away kit is white. The goalkeeper kits complete the collection in red and yellow colorways. The Puma Yokohama FC 2026-27 kits are available to purchase via the club's online store.
