Footy Headlines Exclusive: Next-Gen Nike Phantom GX 2 Boots to Be Launched in Early 2024

The Austrian ADMIRAL Bundesliga and technical partner Derbystar have officially unveiled the new official match ball for the upcoming 2026-2027 season. The new ball already made an early on-pitch debut last weekend during the crucial final round of the current campaign. Starting next season, the new design will be used uniformly across the top-flight ADMIRAL Bundesliga, the 2. Liga, and the Frauen-Bundesliga.

The Derbystar Austrian Bundesliga 26-27 match ball is heavily inspired by the ultimate goal of the domestic season: the championship trophy. Moving away from the vibrant magenta and turquoise of the previous campaign, the 26-27 ball features a classic black-and-white base enhanced by modern graphic applications.

The artwork intricately incorporates depictions of the trophies from all three participating leagues. Crucially, the design pays a special tribute to the iconic gold "Meisterteller" (Champions Plate), specifically celebrating the 50th anniversary of the famous trophy's first-ever presentation to the league winners back in 1977.

In addition to the standard primary match ball, Derbystar has also developed a vibrant High-Visible variant specifically designed for optimal tracking during poor weather or snowy winter conditions.

What do you think of this trophy-inspired black and white design for the new Austrian Bundesliga ball? Let us know in the comments below.

Lega Pro and sporting goods retailer Decathlon have officially presented the new Official Match Ball for the upcoming 2026-2027 Serie C season.

The Serie C 2026-2027 match ball boasts a very striking look, "inspired by the concept of energy, reflecting the intense passion and movement that characterizes the third tier of Italian football".

The highly refractive optical white base is decorated with dynamic, futuristic graphics featuring a chromatic texture that fades from cobalt blue to bright red, which is further highlighted by vibrant neon yellow accents.

What are your thoughts on the striking design of the new Decathlon Serie C match ball? Let us know in the comments below.

We can give you the first look at the Adidas Arsenal 26-27 away anthem jacket. It features the streamlined template of Adidas# 2026 away anthem jackets, plus colors inspired by the kit.

We can leak the first images of a new Adidas Italy retro lifestyle t-shirt.

As part of a wider Originals collection aimed at national teams, this new piece brings a strong 1990s aesthetic back to the modern era. The release highlights the German brand's continuing strategy of mining its extensive design archives to create bespoke, off-pitch apparel for its top-tier federations.

The Adidas Italy retro t-shirt features a clean, off-white base color that immediately establishes a classic throwback feel. Drawing direct inspiration from the colors of the Italian national flag, the shirt incorporates striking green, white and red geometric blocks.

Adding heavily to the nostalgic appeal, the chest displays a centralized logo arrangement, featuring a classic Adidas wordmark and Trefoil paired with a faithful recreation of the historic Italian Football Federation crest used throughout the early 1990s.

Other Adidas federations will get the same range in their colors.

We have the first image of a unique new Adidas Germany retro jacket, showcasing an intriguing new approach from the sportswear brand.

While the design instantly evokes strong nostalgia for the 1990s, this upcoming release is actually an "alternate history" creation. Despite its highly authentic vintage appearance and period-accurate details, this specific track jacket never actually existed in the official Adidas catalogues during the 1990s, making it a brand new addition to their retro-focused lifestyle collection.

To achieve this convincing old-school aesthetic, Adidas has utilized their classic 1992 template as the structural foundation for the design. The garment features a vibrant green base that heavily nods to Germany's traditional away kits of the era. The colors of the German national flag are cleverly completed on the sleeves through large geometric blocks that also recreate the 3 stripes.

The same jacket will also be released for Spain and other Adidas national teams.

Former Manchester United and England midfielder Jesse Lingard yesterday night wore a unique name on the back of his shirt for his current club, Corinthians.

During the Brazilian side's Copa do Brasil clash against Barra FC, Lingard took to the pitch with his popular moniker, 'J Lingz', printed above his squad number. Rather than a permanent vanity choice by the 33-year-old, this unusual kit alteration was part of a coordinated, team-wide initiative where all Corinthians players swapped their traditional names for their recognizable nicknames.

The temporary name changes were implemented as part of a promotional campaign for Brazil's Generic Drug Day, which is officially celebrated on May 20th. Driven by pharmaceutical brand Hypera, the initiative aimed to highlight the importance and reliability of generic medications in public health. By replacing the players' standard names with their nicknames, the club and the sponsor sought to creatively demonstrate that even if the name on the back is different, the player - and by extension, the generic medication - delivers the exact same performance and effect.

Lingard joined the Brazilian giants in March following a stint in South Korea with FC Seoul.