Many Players Lost, But Nike Still Lead 2022 World Cup Boots Battle
Nov 26, 2022, by Chris
The 2022 World Cup battle is not only fought for the national football kits but also for the boots worn by the best players. We take a look at the football boots of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, in cooperation with Football Boots DB and with some infographics by French football equipment specialists Footpack.
Check out all 2022 World Cup boot statistics and lineups on Football Boots DB
Nike have lost around 100 important players since 2018
2022 World Cup Football Boots Brand Battle
The 2022 World Cup soccer cleats battle is clearly lead by Nike, who supply almost exactly half of the players (49%). Adidas come second with 35%, while Puma follow third with 12%.
However, while Nike still make the boots for the majority of the World Cup players in 2022, the Swoosh were much more dominant four years ago. In the 2018 World Cup, Nike supplied 63% of all players.
Why have Nike lost so much percentage? The reason is simple - Nike did end/not extend the contracts with very many of the world's best (but also expensive) footballers, including Neymar, Sergio Ramos (not nominated), Saka, Coman, Alex Sandro, Weah, Ederson, and many more.
Puma have more than doubled their players
Meanwhile, Puma have gained space. Puma have more than doubled the number of players, from 5% to 12,5%. Adidas also won more players than they lost.
Apart from the Big 3, the small brands again play a quite small role, with less than 5% of all players. New Balance are certainly the leader of the rest. They supply Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka, and Timothy Weah (Sadio Mane is out with an injury).
2022 World Cup Top Goalscoring Boot Silos - As of November 25
The 2022 World Cup Top Goalscoring Brands reveal that Adidas and New Balance players had a good start in the tournament. Adidas lead the goal battle with 19 goals ahead of Nike (18 goals). New Balance players scored four goals in the first group matchday.
In terms of boot silos, the Adidas X Speedportal leads ahead of the Nike Zoom Mercurial, and the Puma Ultra Ultimate.
2022 World Cup Boot Lineups
2022 World Cup - Popular Players By Boots
When we look at the players most people have checked out on Football Boots DB, Nike again lead ahead of Adidas. But the smaller brands are attracting particular interest, with Raheem Sterling and Trent Alexander-Arnold both in the top 15.
Check out all 2022 World Cup boot statistics and lineups on Football Boots DB
Do you think Nike will continue to lose players in the future? Comment below.
Qatar SC 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
Italian sportswear brand Macron and Qatar Stars League side Qatar SC have officially unveiled the club's new home and away kits for the 26-27 season.
The Qatar SC 26-27 home jersey embraces the club's iconic visual identity, sporting traditional vertical stripes in black and yellow across the body and sleeves. The shirt features a striped crew neck collar and matching sleeve cuffs, along with a minimalist shield crest and yellow sponsor detailing across the chest.
For the away jersey, Macron delivers a sleek and clean aesthetic built around an off-white base. The look is framed by a stylish dark grey polo-style collar and matching cuff accents, with monochrome logos completing the kit. Alongside the outfield shirts, the release also introduced new goalkeeper jerseys in dynamic sky blue and maroon graphic designs.
Arsenal Expands Google Partnership to Include Gemini AI in £7m/Year Deal
Arsenal have renewed and expanded their commercial partnership with Google, securing Google Pixel as the club's Official Smartphone Partner while introducing Google Gemini as their Official Consumer AI Assistant Partner. According to sports business reports, the lucrative three-year contract is valued at around £7 million per season.
The agreement builds on the collaboration originally established in August 2023, which saw Google Pixel produce matchday digital content and exclusive behind-the-scenes access for supporters. The new phase will see Google Gemini integrated into the club's digital channels to provide AI-assisted fan experiences and matchday engagement across both the men's and women's teams, alongside continued Pixel camera activations.
Arsenal's renewal is part of a coordinated push by Google across elite European football. Over recent weeks, the tech company has rolled out similar multi-year partnerships incorporating both Pixel and Gemini with top clubs such as Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and Barcelona.
Monopoli 26-27 Centenary Kit Released
Italian Serie C club SS Monopoli 1966 and kit supplier Joma have officially unveiled a special centenary kit celebrating 100 years since the arrival of football in the city (1926-2026). Branded as the 'Special Kit 100 Audace', the shirt pays homage to the historic Audace Monopoli team and the roots of the local game.
Stepping away from the club's traditional green and white palette, the Joma Monopoli 2026-27 centenary jersey adopts a classic black-and-white striped design. The kit features a retro-inspired collar construction, a golden Joma logo on the chest, and an archival Monopoli crest. Subtle tonal jacquard graphics are woven directly into the fabric.
Completed with matching black shorts and socks, the commemorative Monopoli 26-27 centenary kit is available via the club's official webshop and local retail locations.
São Paulo Feminino 26-27 Third Kit Released - First-Ever Exclusive Women's Kit
São Paulo FC and New Balance have officially unveiled the new third kit for the club's women's team. Marking a historic milestone for the Tricolor Paulista, this release represents the first time the Brazilian club has designed a third shirt exclusively for São Paulo Feminino.
The New Balance São Paulo 26-27 women's third jersey arrives in an elegant lilac base inspired by the lotus flower, symbolizing strength, resilience, and the power to flourish in adverse conditions. The lower portion of the shirt is adorned with a delicate watermark pattern of blooming lotus petals that fades subtly into the fabric. In addition, the kit features a commemorative lotus icon on the upper back and the embroidered phrase "Somos Lótus, Somos Luta" on the shoulder.
Contrasting deep purple details highlight the V-neck collar, sleeve trims, and sponsor branding, while the club crest and New Balance logo are applied with a 3D TPU glazed finish. Built with moisture-wicking NB Dry fabric made from 100% recycled polyester, the kit is completed by dark purple shorts and socks.
Al-Jabalain 26-27 Home & Third Kits Released
Saudi Arabian side Al-Jabalain have unveiled their new home and third kits, made by Skillano and to be worn in the upcoming 26-27 Saudi First Division season.
The new designs bring interesting approaches to the traditional colorway: The home kit features a brown and white striped base with a diagonal graphic on the lower hips, while the third kit uses a complicated subtle pattern on a clean white look.
What do you think of the Skillano Al-Jabalain 26-27 home and third kits? Let us know in the comments below.
Special Detail on the FA Community Shield Sleeve Patch
The sleeve patch worn during recent 2026 FA Community Shield match featured a unique, customized touch: the ribbon running across the shield was split into red and sky blue, representing the primary colors of Arsenal and Manchester City.
This bespoke ribbon colorway tradition first debuted at the 2015 FA Community Shield in the clash between Arsenal and Chelsea.
The only exceptions to this colored-ribbon tradition occurred in 2020 (Arsenal vs. Liverpool) and 2025 (Crystal Palace vs. Liverpool), where the ribbons on the patch were rendered in neutral white. This adjustment is believed to be the FA's standard protocol to maintain visual balance when both competing clubs share the same primary kit color (red).
Another unique scenario took place in 2021. Even though Manchester City wore their away kit against Leicester City, the patch still featured both clubs' traditional home colors. This was possible because City’s sky blue and Leicester’s royal blue possess distinguishable shades.
Big thanks to @jerseystory_vn for spotting this detail and creating the collage.
Gianluigi Donnarumma Prefers Replica Kits
During the 2026 FA Community Shield, Gianluigi Donnarumma was once again spotted wearing a replica jersey on the pitch rather than an authentic player-issue shirt. Details such as the embroidered crest and the standard dryCELL branding confirmed his kit choice.
This marks the second consecutive season since joining Manchester City that the Italian goalkeeper has opted for the replica version. The reason stems from Puma's player-issue shirts featuring a tighter, more athletic cut, whereas Donnarumma prefers a looser, roomier fit for maximum comfort and freedom of movement.
Big thanks to @jerseystory_vn for spotting this detail and creating the comparison graphic.