Worst Sponsor-Free Kits Ever? Nike J League Shirts Look Awful Without Logos
Nike are selling sponsorless versions of J League sides Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Uruawa Red Diamonds' kits, but the extremely low Swoosh and badge placement makes for a very jarring look.
Worst Sponsorless Kits Ever? J League Shirts Stand Out for the Wrong Reasons
Most football shirt fans and collectors would argue that kits look better without a logo (or logos) splashed all over them, while others say that sponsors can provide balance to a jersey and compliment the design. The latter group will therefore feel somewhat vindicated by the latest sponsor-free shirts on sale from Nike's Japanese website.
Among the regular J League kits there are sponsorless versions of Urawa Red Diamonds and Sanfrecce Hiroshima's home shirts. At the time of their release, the unusually low placement of the Swoosh and badge caught our eye, but on the sponsor-free version it's even more apparent.
The reason for applying the crest and Nike logo so low was to accomodate the sponsor logos which are placed towards the shoulders of each team's match kits. Applying logos on top of the curved seam that runs along the top of the chest of Nike's ADV Dri-Fit template would not work very well for aesthetic and functional reasons, so Nike shifted everything downwards by a few centimetres.
When the sponsor logos are removed - or rather not applied in the first place - the low placement of the Swoosh and the club crest no longer serves a purpose, and results in a decidedly bizarre look. Their positioning is somewhat balanced out on the sponsored version of the shirts, but in the absence of those logos, the balance is thrown way off by the excess blank space on the top half of the shirt. Proof that no sponsor doesn't always look better?
What do you think of this unusual look? Comment below.
QPR Kit Clash Against West Brom
QPR faced a major kit clash in their EFL Championship away game at West Brom, wearing their pink away shirt with blue shorts against West Brom's traditional blue-and-white home shirt.
The bright pink of QPR looked surprisingly similar to the white stripes of West Brom on TV, while the blue shorts and dark details made the overall contrast even less clear.
From the wide camera angle, the two teams became difficult to distinguish, creating a frustrating viewing experience for fans.
Nike Kobe 8 Protro 'Mambacurial' Releasing Next Week
Nike is set to officially bring back one of its most famous crossover designs, the Kobe 8 Protro "Mambacurial", releasing on September 19, 2026. First introduced in 2013 as a tribute to Kobe Bryant's lifelong passion for football, the sneaker drew direct inspiration from the vibrant 2013 Nike Mercurial Vapor IX football boot. Thirteen years after its original debut, the model returns under the modernized Protro banner, uniting basketball performance with iconic football heritage. Big thanks to House of Heat.
The shoe faithfully recreates the beloved colorway, featuring a bold gradient across the engineered mesh upper in Red Plum, Pink Flash, and Electric Green. Signature football details define the look, including the oversized forefoot Swoosh that mimics Mercurial boot branding, massive block-letter "NIKE" lettering across the medial flank, and a translucent neon green outsole. Modern Protro upgrades have been implemented beneath the surface to provide improved cushioning and traction.
SK Brann Kvinner 26-27 Third Kit Released
Norwegian Toppserien side SK Brann Kvinner have officially unveiled their new 26-27 third kit, produced by Nike in collaboration with Unisport. The team debuted the vibrant new design during their away fixture against Lyn in Oslo.
The Nike SK Brann Kvinner 26-27 third shirt features a purple base paired with a large, dark rhododendron flower graphic printed across the front. The design honors Bergen's reputation as Norway's "Rhododendron City," known for the vibrant bushes that flourish in gardens and parks across the city. All branding, including the Nike Swoosh, monochrome Brann crest, and sponsor logos, is applied in a contrasting bright pink.
On the back, the jersey includes the inscription "For Bergen" in gothic lettering just below the collar, symbolizing the pride of representing the city on away trips. The new third uniform completes Brann Kvinner's 26-27 wardrobe alongside their traditional red home and dark away kits.
Special Club América 26-27 Kit Font Released
Club América has unveiled a special commemorative kit font for the 26-27 season, celebrating Mexican Independence Day and the club's marquee Clásico matches throughout September. The bespoke nameset replaces the regular squad typography on the back of Las Águilas' primary yellow home shirt, adopting the iconic green, white, and red of the Mexican flag.
The custom numbers feature a deep green base detailed with thin white vertical pinstripes. Embedded along the vertical lines are historic commemorative inscriptions, including the club name, the date "16 - 09 - 1810" marking the start of the Mexican War of Independence, and "INDEPENDENCIA DE MÉXICO". The player names above are rendered in vibrant red with a clean white outline.
To complete the patriotic design, each numeral incorporates a geometric red and cream 3D shadow effect, alongside Club América's crest placed at the base of every digit. The special typography delivers a unique cultural tribute, adding extra identity to the squad's jerseys during one of the most important periods of the Mexican football calendar.
