No to Tradition: When Teams Change Their Colours
With New York Red bulls possibly ditching their regular white and red home kit for something different in the upcoming MLS season, here are some other instances of clubs switching up their traditional home colours.
When Clubs Change Their Home Colours
A team's colours are central to their identity and usually held dear by fans. Throughout history, some clubs have made permanent changes to their home colours, like when Bournemouth adopted black and red stripes in 1971 in honour of AC Milan. Today Leeds United are known for their white kits, thanks to the change made by legendary manager Don Revie in 1961, who wanted to emulate the all-conquering Real Madrid. These changes are now historical and the respective clubs have long since made the looks their own, but such major aesthetic overhauls are rarer to come by these days.
Leeds and Bournemouth before adopting the colours we know them by today.
We've seen fan outrage amplified by social media in recent years when manufacturers and clubs decide to experiment with home shirts, even when they maintain the key colours. While it's true that you can't please everyone, you can be sure that most will be unhappy with too radical of a change made without good reason. Here are a few short lived alternatives to traditional home colours, which were greeted with varying degrees of acceptance.
Parma 98-04
Lotto replaced Puma as Parma's kit maker in 1998 and would remain in the role for only one season, but it was certainly one to remember. White had been their traditional home colour for most of their history, while yellow and blue had appeared on plenty of away strips as well as some home detailing. Lotto installed a blue and yellow hooped design as their home shirt, which went on to gain iconic status thanks to the team's array of stars and UEFA Cup victory that season.
Their successors, Champion, decided that it certainly hadn't done the team any harm, so they kept the look until 2004, before reverting to the more traditional black cross on a white base. The blue and yellow hoops will always hold a special place in fans' hearts and have been revived for several away kits in recent years.
Arsenal 05-06
This one had some historical significance and proved extremely popular with fans and neutrals alike. Arsenal wore a redcurrant home shirt in their first season at Highbury all the way back in 1913, and so they decided a return to this colour would be a nice way to bookend their time at their famous home ground.
Gold accents and special embroidery around the crest added a touch of elegance, a very fitting way to mark the end of a long and significant period of the club's history. They returned to their classic red and white shirts the following season as they moved to the Emirates Stadium.
Inter 14-15
Inter's black and blue striped shirts have been a constant throughout their entire history. Their recent zig zag number and last season's snakeskin print provided modern takes on the theme and had their detractors, but in 14-15 Nike gave them a home shirt which provoked much more consternation from supporters. Yes it was black and blue, and yes, it had stripes, but to put it simply, it didn't look like an Inter shirt.
A black base was overlaid with very fine blue pinstripes, resulting in a much darker overall look when paired with their customary plain black shorts. An 8th place in Serie A means there aren't too many happy memories associated with the jersey either.
Cardiff City 12-15
Easily the most controversial entry on this list. Cardiff had always worn blue until new Malaysian owner Vincent Tan decided that a rebrand to red as their primary colour was in order to boost the club's appeal abroad. There was uproar when fans initially got wind of the plan, but it made little difference. Tan went ahead with the switch, also adding a red dragon to the club crest. Fans continually campaigned to get their colours back, but Tan's stance was “No way I will change it back to blue under my ownership.”
The fans didn't let up, and midway through the 14-15 season Tan finally gave in and the blue home kit was reinstated. Order was also restored to the crest and the bluebird took centre stage once more, although the red dragon remained on a much smaller scale.
Mexico 2015, 2019, 2020
International team colours reflect national identity and very often - but not always - reference the country's flag. Mexico's full kit of green shirt, white shorts and red socks recreates their full tricolour and was introduced in the 1950s. Before that, a maroon shirt was paired with black shorts for their home kit. In 2015, Adidas introduced a black home shirt for the first time in their history.
It was seemingly a marketing move, made on the back of strong sales of their previous black away kits. Their next two home shirts returned to green before two more successive black kits in 2018 and 2019, the latter of which had a bright pink pattern. Not bad looking shirts by any means, but a national team's home colours should not be changed on the basis of aesthetic appeal alone.
Can you think of any other teams who have dropped their classic home shirt in favour of a new look? Let us know in the comments.
Vintage Football Shirts
from Cult Kits
2024 Mexico *BNWT* Home Shirt (Multiple Sizes) Adidas
2002 FC Tokyo Supporters Tee (L) Flets
2015/16 Raith Rovers Polo Shirt (S) Puma
2008/09 Barcelona Track Jacket (S) Nike
Iconic Manchester United Shirts A3 Print
2003/04 Sevilla Pablo Alfaro #24 *Match Issue* Third Shirt (XL) Joma
1988 Netherlands Reusable Face Mask
2021/22 Detroit City Bomber Jacket (M) Starter
2003/04 Real Madrid Zidane #5 Third Shirt (L) Adidas
2005/06 Liverpool Gerrard #8 Away Shirt (M) Reebok
Adidas Leeds United 26-27 Retro Lifestyle Kit Leaked
Adidas Originals will release a retro collection for Leeds United. Recreated by kit insider @KamilBerberler using FIFA Kit Creator, this new lifestyle release promises a heavily nostalgic aesthetic.
The Adidas Leeds United 26-27 Originals shirt features a deep navy blue base, elevated by a tonal, all-over pattern made entirely of classic Adidas Trefoil logos. A strong vintage identity is established through the crisp white Trefoil and the club's universally beloved 'smiley' crest on the chest. The crest and colors are the same used for the Leeds 26-27 away kit, which is yellow, navy, and white.
The long-sleeve silhouette is finished with vibrant yellow shoulder piping, white Three Stripes down the arms, and thickly striped navy, white, and yellow cuffs.
Nike Cryo Shot Mercurial R9 Ronaldo Colorway Leaked - New Images
Nike has shared fresh detailed images of the Cryo Shot Mercurial R9 in the iconic Ronaldo colorway. The model reworks the classic Mercurial Vapor R9 silhouette, originally worn by the Brazilian star during the 1998 World Cup, as a lifestyle sneaker under the new Cryo Shot line.
The colorway uses Varsity Royal and Varsity Maize with metallic silver accents along with black and sail details. It carries the style code IQ8160-400 and will retail for $210.
The pair is scheduled to release on June 30, 2026, as part of Nike's Summer 2026 lineup that adapts multiple heritage football boots for everyday wear. What do you make of this new R9 version? Let us know in the comments.
Thanks to @vladieboi
FC Isle of Man 2026-29 Home Kit Unveiled
FC Isle of Man has introduced its new home kit for the 2026-29 seasons. The design, produced by Hope & Glory, features the club's red and black colors and was selected by members through a vote.
The replica shirt is an EcoKit with a woven club crest. It will be worn by the team in the North West Counties League Premier Division.
Pre-orders are open via the official club shop until June 5, 2026. What are your thoughts on the latest FC Isle of Man home kit? Let us know in the comments.
Mexico Third Kit Debuts On Pitch vs Ghana
The Mexican national team debuted its new third kit during the friendly against Ghana on May 22 at Estadio Cuauhtémoc. The Adidas design features a black base with a tonal MX pattern, tricolor accents from the Mexican flag on the collar and sleeves, and special embroidery details. The full apparel line was also worn, including the usual sponsorship placements.
https://www.footyheadlines.com/2025/04/mexico-2026-se-kit.html
Released on May 11, the kit forms part of Mexico's preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the country will co-host for the third time in its history. It results from a collaboration with Someone Somewhere and emphasizes national unity through the "Somos México" message.
The third kit provides an elegant alternative for when home and away colors clash. What do you think of Mexico's new third kit for the 2026-26 World Cup? Let us know in the comments.
Barcelona Releases Limited LaLiga Victory Box for 2025-26 Season
Barcelona has launched a limited edition LaLiga Victory Box to mark the club's 2025-26 title success. Priced at €499.99, the collection is sold exclusively through the official Barça store and is capped at 1,000 units total across available sizes.
Each box contains a player edition 2025-26 home jersey featuring a special commemorative LaLiga champions inscription, an official champions t-shirt, a numbered victory scarf, and a random limited Panini Instant card. The cards include rare parallels, with only 25 units across the run signed by players including Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Lewandowski, Pedri, and Gavi.
The release follows Barcelona's league triumph in the 2025-26 campaign. Orders are now open with shipping in approximately two weeks. Would you purchase one of these boxes? Let us know in the comments.
Colo-Colo 26-27 Retro Lifestyle Kit Leaked
Kit tracker Kamil Berberler has posted details of a Colo-Colo x adidas Originals Collection long sleeve jersey. The image has been recreated with the FIFA Kit Creator tool.
The Adidas Originals Colo-Colo 2026 jersey is based on the streamlined template, in a no-nonsense black and white colorway. It has a black base with contrasting white logos.
Coritiba 26-27 Away Kit Released
Coritiba has officially revealed its new away jersey for the 2026-27 season. Produced by Diadora, the shirt known as the Jogadeira draws inspiration from the nighttime landscape of Curitiba, reflecting urban lighting, traditional architecture, and the club's deep roots in the city through the 'Curitiba é Coritiba' campaign.
The design emphasizes a dark green base with thinner white vertical stripes for a more contemporary look. It features a white polo collar with matching accents on the shoulders, sleeves, and cuffs. The club crest is on the left chest and the Diadora logo appears in white on the right. A custom jacquard pattern references historic republican posts along Rua XV de Novembro, connected to the 'Pelo Mundo Vai Brilhar' theme.
White shorts and green socks round out the kit. It is now available at official Coxa Store locations and online.
What do you think of the new Coritiba away shirt? Let us know in the comments.
Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo 30th Anniversary 26-27 Home Kit Released
Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo have announced their new home kit for the 2026-27 season made by Mizuno. The shirt celebrates the club's 30th anniversary and is set to be worn in all official matches throughout the campaign.
The design retains the team's traditional red and black vertical stripes but incorporates a starry sky pattern between them, drawing from the Hokkaido prefecture flag. It also features a special centered 30th anniversary badge marking the milestone.
The kit supports the club's push for promotion back to the J1 League.
What do you think of the new Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo 2026-27 home kit? Let us know in the comments.
France 2026 World Cup Numbers Announced
France head coach Didier Deschamps has officially announced his 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. Following the announcement, the French Football Federation (FFF) has also revealed the official squad numbers that the Les Bleus will wear during the tournament.
The squad features a blend of experienced veterans and exciting young talent. As expected, superstar Kylian Mbappé will wear the iconic number 10 shirt, while Antoine Griezmann's former number 7 has been given to Ousmane Dembélé.
Here is the complete list of the France squad and their official numbers for the 2026 World Cup:
Goalkeepers
1 – Brice Samba (Rennes)
16 – Mike Maignan (AC Milan)
23 – Robin Risser (Lens)
Defenders
2 – Malo Gusto (Chelsea)
3 – Lucas Digne (Aston Villa)
4 – Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)
5 – Jules Koundé (Barcelona)
15 – Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool)
17 – William Saliba (Arsenal)
19 – Theo Hernandez (Al Hilal)
21 – Lucas Hernandez (PSG)
26 – Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace)
Midfielders
6 – Manu Koné (AS Roma)
8 – Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid)
13 – N'Golo Kanté (Fenerbahçe)
14 – Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan)
18 – Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG)
Forwards
7 – Ousmane Dembélé (PSG)
9 – Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan)
10 – Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)
11 – Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
12 – Bradley Barcola (PSG)
20 – Désiré Doué (PSG)
22 – Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace)
24 – Rayan Cherki (Manchester City)
25 – Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco)
France, drawn into Group I, will face Iraq, Norway, and Senegal in the group stage as they aim for their third World Cup title.