Nike to Cut $2 Billion in Costs Over 3 Years - Ends Tiger Woods Partnership After 27 Years - Could Cuts in Football Follow?
Jan 9, 2024, by Phan Tich Giay
- Cost Cutting: Nike aims to cut $2 billion in costs over the next 3 years, partly through workforce reductions.
- End of Partnership: Nike has ended its 27-year partnership with Tiger Woods as part of its cost-cutting measures.
- Football Concerns: Nike's future involvement in men's football is uncertain, with potential further contract terminations.
Update: Confirming the previous rumors, Nike has announced the end of its Tiger Woods partnership after 27 years. This is part of the company's strategy to cut costs by $2 billion over the next 3 years. It remains to be seen if famous football clubs or players will follow. Indeed, Nike has already lost dozens of players and other contracts in the past few years, including Neymar, Grealish, Portugal (from 2025) and the Premier League (from 2025).
Indeed, a possibility for Nike to save more costs would be the early termination of football club contracts, such as the FC Barcelona contract. It would cost Nike money in the short-term but free them up of costs in the long term (which is often liked by stock markets).
Recently, Nike announced that it plans to cut more costs in the future by saving $2 billion over the next 3 years, according to The Oregonian.
The plan to save $2 billion over the next three years is part of an effort to regain lost momentum and spark Nike's sleepy innovation engine.
Nike Only Grew 1%, Shares Fall 10%
According to the report, Nike expects to incur as much as $450 million in restructuring charges in the quarter that ends 28 February, mostly for severance costs, suggesting that Oregon's largest company is in the process of parting ways with a significant number of employees.
To put that cost in perspective, Nike predicted it would incur between $200 million and $250 million in severance costs in 2020 when it eliminated 700 jobs.
With the aim of reducing costs in the coming years, it is understandable that Nike has terminated contracts with many major tournaments, major clubs and major players in 2023.
Recently, Barcelona are said to be unhappy with Nike, despite being one, if not the top-payed club in the world. Puma is said to be making every effort to replace Nike - however, Footy Headlines do not think Puma would/could pay as much as Nike.
At present, Nike executives have not given specific information about the $2 billion savings plan, but they have said the company can do it in any way, from streamlining the organizational chart to reducing the number of products and eliminating layers of management.
Nike may even end its contract with golf legend Tiger Woods in a bid to cut costs over the next three years. Tiger Woods has been signed to Nike since 1996 and has had a partnership with Nike for nearly 30 years. His current contract with Nike expires at the end of this year. We’ll see if Woods will be wearing the Swoosh in 2024.
According to its latest report on 30 November, Nike also lowered its sales forecast for the fiscal year ending 31 May to around 1% growth. Shares were down around 10% in after-hours trading within an hour of the earnings report.
Based on financial reports, analysts have pointed out that Nike's product pipeline is declining and that it is losing market share in running, its legacy category.
On the earnings call, Donahoe said the cost-cutting will enable Nike to invest more in innovation and other growing areas of the company, such as its women’s category, the Jordan brand and running.
Donahoe added that Nike is returning to its "front foot" with early momentum in trail running and basketball.
What do you think about Nike's current situation? Do you think Nike will have even fewer top teams and players in the future? Comment below.
FC Südtirol 26-27 Third Kit Released
Italian Serie B club FC Südtirol and technical sponsor Erreà have officially unveiled the new third kit for the 2026-27 campaign. Completing the club's matchday wardrobe alongside the previously launched home and away strips, the design draws strong inspiration from the natural alpine scenery and vineyard landscapes of the South Tyrol region.
The Erreà FC Südtirol 26-27 third jersey arrives in an elegant cream and off-white base complemented by deep forest green accents. A faint, tonal organic pattern runs across the fabric, while the front features the "Südtirol" wordmark alongside the iconic mountain silhouette in dark green, placed directly above main sponsor Alperia. Both the Erreà emblem and the diamond-shaped FCS crest are rendered in a clean monochrome green style.
Contrasting green detailing finishes the rear collar, sleeve cuffs, and side flanks of the shirt. The uniform is completed by matching off-white shorts and socks, both accented with forest green trim and club lettering. The FC Südtirol 26-27 third kit is available through the club's official store.
Erreà San Marino Women's 2026 Home & Away Kits Released
Italian sportswear brand Erreà and the San Marino Football Federation (FSGC) have officially revealed the first bespoke home and away kits for the newly established San Marino women's senior national football team. Founded earlier this year under the guidance of head coach Giulia Domenichetti, the squad will debut the new uniforms in their first official international friendly matches against Liechtenstein and Gibraltar.
Both jerseys take direct inspiration from San Marino's most famous national symbols, the Three Towers of Mount Titano: Guaita, Cesta, and Montale. The home shirt is predominantly white with delicate celeste blue and dark blue accents on the polo-style V-neck collar and sleeve cuffs. Subtly woven into the fabric is an embossed tone-on-tone pattern representing the historic towers, paired with matching white shorts and socks.
The away jersey flips the color scheme into a deep navy blue, highlighted by vertical repeating silhouettes of the Three Towers across the front. White side panels and light blue trim on the collar add sharp contrast, accompanied by matching navy shorts and socks. Both kits are produced using Erreà's lightweight Future fabric as part of the UEFA Kit Assistance Scheme, and feature custom "FSGC 1931" tape inside the back collar.
Champions League 'Debut' Sleeve Patches Make On-Pitch Debut
The brand-new UEFA Champions League 'Debut' sleeve patch made its official on-pitch appearance during Matchday 1 of the 26-27 season. Introduced through a collaboration between UEFA, UC3, and Topps (Fanatics Collectibles), the initiative is designed to highlight and celebrate players making their first-ever career appearance in Europe's premier club competition.
The special badge adds a curved blue emblem featuring the word 'DEBUT' integrated into the bottom of the iconic Champions League Starball sleeve badge, including the club badge of honour editions. The patch is strictly awarded for active on-pitch participation, meaning only starting players and substituted debutants wear it. Unused substitutes on the bench do not qualify until they physically step onto the pitch, and a player can only wear the debut badge once in their entire career.
The badge also bridges the gap between matchday kit and football memorabilia. Following the match, the blue 'DEBUT' element is removed from the player's match-worn jersey, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, and delivered to Topps. It will then be permanently embedded into a unique 1-of-1 autographed trading card for upcoming Topps collections, while the underlying badge remains visible on the shirt so the player can retain their jersey as a personal memento.
Next-Gen Puma Future 10 Prototype Spotted - Netfit Return?
Chelsea star and key Puma athlete Morgan Rogers has been spotted testing an intriguing all-white prototype during training, providing the first clear look at what is expected to be the next-generation Puma Future 10 football boots.
The most striking detail of the blackout/whiteout boot is a completely overhauled upper construction. Shifting away from the FUZIONFIT systems that defined recent iterations including the Future 9, the prototype features a distinct honeycomb-patterned structure. This textured webbing strongly recalls Puma's original Netfit concept from early Future models, hinting at a revived or modernized take on fully customizable lockdown and dynamic fit.
Along with the revamped upper, the boots appear to feature a low-profile knit collar and a lightweight soleplate tailored for agility and sharp turns. With top endorsers like Rogers already putting prototypes through their paces, the next-gen Puma Future 10 is expected to debut in late 2026 or early 2027 during the 26-27 season.
Adidas Club América 110th Anniversary Collection Leaked
Images of the upcoming Adidas Originals Club América 110th anniversary lifestyle collection have surfaced online. The capsule celebrates the historic Mexican side's 110th birthday since its foundation on October 12, 1916, and is set to accompany a special commemorative 26-27 retro shirt. Thanks to @KamilBerberler.
The lifestyle collection features a track jacket, matching track pants, and a casual t-shirt, all built on a royal blue base with soft pale yellow detailing. Each piece carries the classic Adidas Trefoil logo opposite a vintage circular "CA" badge inspired by the club's earliest years. The track jacket features contrasting three stripes running down the sleeves, a tall ribbed collar, and a special anniversary label reading "1916-2026 CLUB AMÉRICA" alongside the club and brand crests.
This heritage range is designed to complement the upcoming 110th anniversary retro jersey, which takes cues from the club's iconic 1970s looks with a pale cream base and navy accents. The full collection is scheduled to launch around October 2026 to coincide with Las Águilas' official anniversary date.
Paris Saint-Germain Drops the FIFA Intercontinental Badge?
Since the start of the 26-27 season, the FIFA Intercontinental badge has completely vanished from PSG's shirts, from the UEFA Super Cup to the UEFA Champions League.
This is likely due to PSG's home kit design featuring a vertical logo layout, making it almost impossible to add another badge while maintaining a balanced look. To preserve the shirt's aesthetic, PSG decided to omit the badge altogether.
Goalkeeper Safonov's kit, despite having enough room for the FIFA Intercontinental badge, was also left blank to remain consistent with his outfield teammates.
Thanks to What The Kit for the interest spotting and the collage.
French Amateur Club Aiguilhe FC Unveils Classy Pinstripe Kit With Vintage Photoshoot
French grassroots side Aiguilhe Football Club have caught the eye of kit enthusiasts after revealing their new strip for the 26-27 campaign through a charming, vintage-inspired lifestyle photoshoot. Founded in 2003 and competing in the regional leagues of Haute-Loire, the amateur club bypassed the usual teamwear presentation in favor of an artfully directed campaign celebrating their local community across generations.
Manufactured by Adidas, the jersey is built around a deep maroon base elevated by delicate white vertical pinstripes running down the front. Crisp white accents appear on the shoulder stripes, the Adidas logo, and local sponsor Inter Sport on the chest. The reverse showcases retro-styled squad numbering below arched Aiguilhe FC lettering, completing a clean and cohesive design.
The launch photoshoot places the kit in pastoral and domestic French settings, featuring elderly club figures and players beside antique furniture, a countryside picnic, and a classic upright piano. The thoughtful presentation proves that lower-tier amateur teams can rival professional clubs when it comes to storytelling and visual identity.
Sydney FC 26-27 Home Kit Released
Sydney FC and Under Armour have officially unveiled the club's new home and goalkeeper kits for the 26-27 A-League campaign. Drawing inspiration from Sydney's land, sea, and sky, the fresh design blends the club's traditional look with contemporary detailing celebrating their heritage.
The Sydney FC 26-27 home jersey features a sky blue base covered in an abstract textured pattern. Navy blue finishes the crew-neck collar and the sleeve cuffs, which also incorporate a thin orange stripe along the edge. This subtle accent marks the first time orange has been featured on the exterior of Sydney FC's playing shirt since 2009, referencing the club's original colors. Dark navy is also used for the Under Armour logo, the club crest, and Macquarie University's front-of-shirt sponsorship.
Alongside the home strip, Sydney FC also presented their new goalkeeper jersey, which takes on a vibrant orange base with a matching tonal pattern and navy branding. The new 26-27 kits are now available through the club's official web store.