Nike Have Lost Interest in Men's Football
Dec 16, 2023, by Phan Tich Giay
- Nike's Shift in Strategy: Nike has been decreasing its investment in men's football since 2019, focusing more on women's football and other sports.
- Lost Contracts: Nike has lost several major team and player contracts to competitors like Puma and Adidas, including kit deals with teams and the official ball supply for major leagues.
- Retention of Elite Players: While Nike has lost many player contracts, they are still retaining contracts with top, marketable players.
In recent years, and especially in 2023, Nike have abandoned many relationships and contracts, from football kits to boots and balls for major tournaments. It seems that Nike are cleaning up their current contracts or, in the words of @TheBarcaLad21, that Nike are losing interest in football.
Nike Strategy Change Already Announced in 2019 - Focus on Women's Football & Other Sports
The reason why many think that Nike "have lost their interest in football" dates back to 2019. Starting with the 2019 Women's World Cup, Nike announced that they would be giving more attention to women's football and other sports in general.
Nike have lost interest in Men's football, the Women's game has leveled up remarkably
Since the announcement in 2019, development started that did not slow down in any case - more money and attention to Women's football and sports in general, less money and attention to Men's football.
Football Kit Suppliers
Recently, various football teams and national teams have confirmed that they are ending their relationship with Nike, including Galatasaray, RB Leipzig, New Zealand and, soon, Portugal.
Previously, Nike did also not renew shirt supply contracts with two major Premier League teams, Manchester City and Manchester United. As a result, Manchester City became Puma's elite team and Manchester United became Adidas' elite team. Currently, the Manchester United x Adidas kit deal is also the most valuable in the world.
Football Boots
The development is even cleaner when it comes to player contracts. Since 2020, Nike have lost more than 50 of their most important players. In 2023 alone, Nike have not extended deals with more than 10 players, most of them to Adidas or Puma.
However, Nike still have contracts with top players such as Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Jamal Musiala, and Vinicius Jr. Both Haaland and Vinicius Jr were just recently renewed - Nike want to keep the best and most marketable players, but many players below them have to look for new suppliers to get "big money".
Major Tournaments Ball
In 2023, Nike lost the contract to supply balls for all Conmebol competitions (including the Copa America and Copa Libertadores). From the 2025-26 season, they will no longer supply the English Premier League, getting replaced by Puma - this means that Nike have no big league deal soon.
Nike used to supply the balls for La Liga, Serie A, and Premier League. All these contracts were taken over by Puma - This makes Puma to the world's leading official ball maker next to Adidas.
Have Nike lost interest in (Men's) football? Do you think Nike will have even fewer top teams and players in the future? Let us know in the comments below.
Sporting 26-27 Pre-match Collection Released
The new Sporting CP 2026-27 pre-match collection has landed in the club's official Loja Verde store, revealing the warm-up apparel Sporting will wear ahead of matches during the 2026-27 season.
The pre-match range is headlined by two warm-up shirt designs featuring a cloud-inspired graphic. The first comes in a mint green and white colorway, while the second opts for a darker combination of charcoal and dark green.
Also included in the collection is the Sporting CP 2026-27 Hino jacket, finished in dark grey with contrasting white sleeve panels.
The entire collection features Nike's iconic Total 90 logo, reflecting the brand's continued push to revive the legendary football identity. It also incorporates Sporting's updated club crest, introduced as part of the club's 120th-anniversary identity refresh.
What do you think of the new Sporting CP 2026-27 pre-match collection? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
FC Den Bosch 26-27 Home Kit Released
The FC Den Bosch 2026-27 home kit was officially presented today, made by 14Fourteen. Drawing inspiration from the city's rich history and the many waters of 's-Hertogenbosch, the shirt features a traditional blue base with three darker blue stripes containing a distinct water pattern that symbolizes the bond between the city and its waterways. A classic white collar is added to give the jersey a retro and nostalgic vibe.
The 14Fourteen FC Den Bosch 2026-27 home jersey will be available to purchase starting July 4 at the club's Open Dag, before going on sale online.
Preußen Münster 26-27 Home Kit Released
The new Preußen Münster 2026-27 home kit has been officially released. Made by Jako, the latest primary shirt for the 3. Liga side introduces a classic and clean design that stays true to the club's traditional black, white, and green colors.
The Jako Preußen Münster 2026-27 home football shirt features a subtle striped pattern with a standout detail: the historical city coat of arms is elegantly embossed directly into the fabric. A striking white collar completes the design, while the club's initials SCP are placed on the outer back neck. Inside the collar, the Münster 4 Life logo further emphasizes the team's strong connection to its hometown.
FC Ingolstadt 26-27 Away Kit Released
The new FC Ingolstadt 04 away kit for the 2026-27 season has been officially revealed. Produced by Italian sportswear brand Erreà, Ingolstadt 26-27 Away Kit boasts a lion crest instead of the regular full logo. This will be a feature of the next few Ingolstadt away kits, apparently.
Gamba Osaka 26-27 Kits Released
The new Gamba Osaka home, away and goalkeeper kits were officially unveiled today. Made by Hummel, the new Gamba Osaka 2026-27 shirts will be worn in the upcoming Meiji Yasuda J1 League season, which marks the league's transition to a fall-spring calendar.
The Hummel Gamba Osaka 2026-27 home jersey features the club's traditional blue and black stripes, enhanced with a unique flame and pattern background. The away is white with a black-blue horizontal stripe on the chest, which also carries the flame motif.
Sporting CP 26-27 Training Collection Released
The new Sporting CP 2026-27 training collection is now available through the club's official Loja Verde store, giving fans a first look at the gear the squad will wear during preparations for the upcoming season.
The training range includes a full selection of items such as short-sleeve training jerseys, drill tops and jackets. The training shirt comes in dark green with subtle white detailing on the shoulders. It also features Sporting's updated club emblem, introduced as part of the club's 120th anniversary identity refresh.
What do you think of the new Sporting CP 2026-27 training collection? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Portugal 2026 Away Kit Debut at the 2026 World Cup
Portugal debuted a white-shorts variant for their 2026 World Cup Puma away kit in their recent match against Croatia. This was the first time the away kit being used at the tournament. Throughout all three Group Stage matches, Portugal had only worn their home kit.
Friendly matches back in March and June featured Portugal's original away kit featured dark turquoise shorts.
Which version do you prefer? Let us know in the comments below.
Koblenz 26-27 Home & Away Kits Revealed
The new TuS Koblenz home and away kits for the 2026-27 season have been revealed. Made by Jako, the new shirts will be worn in the upcoming Oberliga Rheinland-Pfalz/Saar campaign.
The Jako TuS Koblenz 2026-27 home and away football shirts introduce custom designs for the German fifth-tier club. Jako has been producing the kits for TuS Koblenz since 2024, following the club's switch from previous supplier Capelli.
Jahn Regensburg 26-27 Home, Away & Goalkeeper Kits Released
German 3. Liga club SSV Jahn Regensburg have officially unveiled their new Hummel home, away and goalkeeper kits for the 2026-27 season. The new kits were presented at a local branch of their main sponsor, Netto Marken-Discount, and aim to bridge the gap between modern lifestyle and the club's tradition.
The Hummel Jahn Regensburg 2026-27 home jersey features an elegant "Whisper White" base instead of a standard white, combined with "Chili Pepper" red on the sleeves and a broad central stripe. The central stripe includes a subtle tone-on-tone pattern that weaves together historical landmarks of Regensburg alongside club milestones. The Hummel Jahn Regensburg 2026-27 away jersey remains true to the classic Jahn red, enhanced by darker "Sundried Tomato" accents. It features a subtle pattern that represents the silhouette of the Jahnstadion's floodlights.
The Hummel Jahn Regensburg 2026-27 goalkeeper shirt is predominantly dark blue with a tone-on-tone pattern and vibrant orange highlights on the shoulders and logos. The grey third kit is carried over from last season.
The new Hummel SSV Jahn Regensburg 26-27 home, away and goalkeeper kits are available to purchase for €84.95.