The Rise Of Nike In 25 Years At The EURO
Jun 3, 2021, by Khoi
With nine teams playing EURO 2020 with a Nike kit, the American sportswear giant has more representation than any other brand this year. How did Nike get here? Let's go back 25 years and see its' journey. Thanks to @subsidesports for the product pics.
History Of Nike At The EURO
1996 was the first year that saw Nike appearing at the European Championship. In 2021, Nike sponsors nine teams.
The Euro 1996 only has Italy but the shirt didn't have the swoosh on it as the Italian FA didn't allow manufacturers logos on Italian national team kits until 1998. But by then Kappa had already replaced Nike.
EURO 2000 is when things started to pick up for Nike. They had Portugal, Netherland and the host Belgium. The formers are still with Nike and have participated in every EURO since then, with the exception of the 2016 edition for the Netherland.
With EURO 2004 came another mainstay, Croatia, who also became a regular at the competition. Russia is the fourth team that donned the Nike swoosh that year.
Turkey was added for EURO 2008 to make it five.
But by the 2012 edition they and Russia did not qualify, and in their place were France and Poland.
In 2016, the Nike roster became six with the addition of England, who joined Nike back in 2013. Turkey returned but Netherland didn’t make it out of the qualifiers.
And now in 2021, except for Belgium, Russia and Italy, all teams that were with Nike from the previous EURO are now featured. Two more nations join the fray, they are Finland and Slovenia, making it nine teams for Nike. This representation is more than any other brand.
Euro 1996
Euro 2000
Euro 2004
Euro 2008
Euro 2012
Euro 2016
Euro 2020
Which is/are your favourite EURO kit(s) from Nike? Tell us in the comment.
Vinicius Jr Joins Mbappé in Nike Mercurial 2026 Scorpion Boots
Following Kylian Mbappé's recent appearances in the new boots, Vinicius Junior has now also taken the Nike Mercurial Scorpion Pack to the pitch. While Mbappé opts for the Superfly 11 version, Vinicius Junior was spotted wearing the low-cut Vapor 17 model. These special edition boots are completely exclusive to the two superstars for the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup. Big thanks to Bootsclub & @sdmlinks.
The design of the new Nike Mercurial Scorpion Pack is heavily inspired by Nike's iconic 2002 Scorpion campaign. The collection brings the classic aesthetic into the modern era, applying it to the latest generation of Nike's speed boots.
Fans looking to get their hands on the boots will not have to wait long. The Nike Mercurial Scorpion Pack, including both the Superfly 11 and Vapor 17 versions, is scheduled to drop on July 9, 2026.
Doncaster Rovers 2026-27 Away Kits Released
Doncaster Rovers have officially revealed their new 2026-27 away kit for the 26-27 League One campaign. Made by local manufacturer Oxen, the new jerseys feature custom designs that pay tribute to the club's history and the city's engineering heritage.
The Doncaster Rovers 2026-27 away kit is heavily inspired by the iconic Mallard steam locomotive. The design draws its color palette directly from the historic train built in Doncaster, and features a bespoke train ticket swing tag as a special nod to the theme.
Sporting Gijón 26-27 Home Kit Released
The new Sporting Gijón 2026-27 home kit has been officially released. It is made by Siroko, a local Gijón-based brand that is taking over as the club's kit supplier and main sponsor for the first time.
The Siroko Real Sporting de Gijón 2026-27 home shirt features the club's classic red and white stripes. It incorporates gold and yellow details to honor the club's history, alongside the Cruz de la Victoria and the motif "El Club de nuestras vidas".
Despite the strong local connection with the new supplier, the initial fan reaction to the Sporting Gijón 2026-27 home kit has been mixed, with some supporters criticizing the overall execution of the design.
AS Nancy-Lorraine 2026-27 Home Kit Released
French club AS Nancy-Lorraine has officially unveiled its new 2026-27 home kit, made by Decathlon. Drawing inspiration from the club's history, the design pays homage to their 1980s shirts as well as the 2015-16 Ligue 1 promotion kit. The launch is accompanied by the club's slogan, "Chaque maillot a une histoire, la nôtre continue ensemble," emphasizing their traditional red and white identity.
Fans looking to purchase the new AS Nancy-Lorraine 2026-27 home shirt can do so starting at 9 AM on July 5, 2026.
Polonia Warszawa 2026-27 Home Kit Released
The new Polonia Warszawa home shirt for the 2026-27 season was officially released yesterday. Made by Adidas, the kit will be worn in the upcoming Polish I liga campaign.
The Adidas Polonia Warszawa 2026-27 home jersey stays true to the club's famous "Czarnych Koszul" (Black Shirts) nickname, honoring their 115-year tradition. It features a classic black base combined with modern Adidas design elements, created with the intention of being worn by fans every day, not just on matchdays.
The Adidas Polonia Warszawa 2026-27 home football shirt is available to buy via the club's official online store.
Puma Ultraweave Kits Continue to Tear at 2026 World Cup
During the 2026 World Cup, Puma kits have become a major talking point due to a series of high-profile tearing incidents. Across the first four rounds of the tournament, six different shirts have ripped during matches. Players from the Czech Republic, Paraguay, Egypt, and Morocco have all experienced torn jerseys following physical challenges and shirt-pulling on the pitch. Notably, kits from other manufacturers have not suffered from similar durability issues during the competition. Big thanks to @jerseystory_vn.
The root of the problem lies in the construction of the Puma Ultraweave fabric. Designed to be incredibly lightweight at just 72 grams, the material features a four-way stretch recycled polyester blend. While the brand states this ultra-light design was driven by player feedback to reduce weight and drag, the extremely thin fabric has proven highly vulnerable to tearing under the stress of grabbing and pulling in a high-contact sport.
With the knockout stages underway, the durability of the Puma kits remains a concern. Several Puma-sponsored nations are still competing in the tournament, including Austria, Ivory Coast, the Netherlands, Portugal, Senegal, and Switzerland. As the stakes get higher and matches become more physical, fans and kit enthusiasts will be watching to see if the Ultraweave fabric can hold up to the pressure of international football.