Castore to Sign Clubs in Scandinavia, Middle East and Far East
- Castore Expansion: Castore is planning to expand into Scandinavia, the Middle East, and the Far East in 2023.
- European Partnerships: Castore has multiple new European partnerships planned for 2023, including a deal with Eredivisie side Utrecht.
- Targeted Growth Regions: Castore views Scandinavia, the Far East and the Middle East as key areas for growth, with the Saudi Pro League being a potential target.
Having just signed Feyenoord for next season, English brand Castore plan on expanding further in 2023 with deals in Scandinavia, the Middle East and the Far East, according to Sports Pro Media.
Castore Expansion Continues
Feyenoord have become the latest European club to sign a deal with Castore, who are continuing their expansion which started last summer when they branched out to mainland Europe. Feyenoord are their first Dutch club but Sports Pro Media report that they are also lining up a deal with fellow Eredivisie side Utrecht. Castore co-founder Tom Beahon says they have "quite a lot" of new European partnerships in the pipeline for 2023, while their first international deal with Ireland is due to be announced soon.
All clubs wearing Castore in 22-23.
They show no signs of slowing down their growth and also have plans to move into new territories with deals in Scandinavia, the Far East and the Middle East. They view these regions as key areas for growth in 2023. The exact countries or leagues they are targeting haven't been mentioned yet, but the two biggest leagues in the Middle East are the Saudi Pro League and the Qatar Stars League.
Several European brands have a small presence in Qatar, but the Saudi top flight is dominated by local brands, as illustrated above. The Saudi league seems like the most obvious candidate for growth with Cristiano Ronaldo now at Al-Nassr. The sport itself will likely grow a lot in the country, as will foreign interest in the league, or at least in Al-Nassr's games. It would make sense from a business standpoint to capitalise on that and would no doubt do massive favours for their brand recognition if they were to kit out Ronaldo's new club, although there has been no mention of which teams they are eyeing up yet.
One of Castore's founders, Tom Beahon, has said that the brand's aim is to become “the number one premium sportswear brand in the world”. Can you see Castore competing with Nike, Adidas and Puma for the biggest teams' contracts in a few years? Let us know in the comments.
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.
