Nike to Further Push Women's Football, Less Focus in Men's Football
Feb 28, 2024, by Phan Tich Giay
- Nike's Strategy Shift: Nike is shifting its focus towards women's football and other sports, decreasing its investment in men's football.
- NWSL Investment: Nike is heavily investing in the NWSL, treating it as a major partner with increased jersey production and design.
- Decreased Men's Football Investment: Nike appears to be abandoning relationships and contracts related to men's football.
According to the strategy that Nike announced in 2019, they will focus on women's football and other sports. So far, this has been increasingly evident as Nike has reduced its investment in men's football while women's football has leveled up remarkably. Thanks for the latest report from ESPN.
Nike to Further Push Women's Football
Recently, Nike released new kits (primary and secondary) for 14 teams in the 2024 NWSL for the first time. This is obviously a significant step forward and shows Nike's investment in the women's game.
Each of the 2024 primary kits for the league's 14 teams is a bespoke design meant to bring to life local culture and storytelling.
Nike now treats the NWSL like its biggest global club and confederation partners.
At the end of 2021, Nike and the NWSL reportedly extended their partnership to 2030 in what the league called "most substantial agreement in history". Meanwhile, Nike sees 2024 as a "foundation" for expanding the commercial appeal of its NWSL jerseys nationally and globally.
A recent study by Grand View Research valued the global licensed sports merchandise market at more than $33 billion, with North America representing the largest market. Historically, the NWSL contributed negligibly nothing to that figure, but in the past two years the league has significantly overhauled its overall branding -- a league rebrand is expected next year -- and licensed merchandise.
Previously, very few NWSL kits were produced, making it difficult for fans to access and purchase kits when they needed them. But starting with the 2024 NWSL season, Nike has increased the production and distribution of NWSL jerseys to make it easier for fans to purchase their favorite jerseys.
In 2019, U.S. women's national team kits became Nike's best-selling soccer jersey, men's or women's teams, in a single season. The only problem was it took a long time for fans to receive their orders because the company didn't anticipate demand.
Nike Has Lost Interest in Men's Football
In contrast to women's football, Nike seems to be losing interest in men's football.
As mentioned in a previous article, Nike has abandoned many relationships and contracts, from football kits to boots and balls for major tournaments. It seems that Nike is cleaning up its current contracts.
What do you think about Nike continuing to push women's football? Comment below.
FC Barcelona 26-27 Fourth Kit Leaked - New Image
Following the first details revealed earlier, new renders have surfaced showcasing how the leaked Nike FC Barcelona 26-27 fourth shirt will look on the pitch. Created by Barcelona shirt expert memorabilia1899, mockups feature summer signing Anthony Gordon and midfielder Pedri wearing the upcoming special-edition jersey.
The Nike FC Barcelona 2026-27 fourth jersey is inspired by Sant Jordi (Saint George), the patron saint of Catalonia. The shirt features a light beige base dominated by a bold maroon cross across the front. Dark navy details complement the look on the collar, sleeve cuffs, Nike swoosh, and Spotify sponsor logo. Navy shorts and socks complete the kit ensemble.
Barcelona's new 26-27 fourth kit is expected to be officially released in January 2027 alongside a matching apparel collection.
Bangkok FC 26-27 Third Kit Released
Thai club Bangkok FC and domestic kit supplier FBT have officially unveiled their new third kit for the 26-27 season. Completing the club's wardrobe alongside the recently introduced home and away strips, the third jersey blends retro sportswear sensibilities with modern lifestyle aesthetics.
The FBT Bangkok FC 26-27 third jersey stands out with a striking purple and black checkered graphic featuring subtle gradient tonal transitions across the body. A crisp white fold-over polo collar and matching white sleeve cuffs add classic flair, complemented by solid white side panels along the torso.
Continuing the theme seen across Bangkok FC's 26-27 range, the shirt features the player's squad number printed prominently in the center of the chest rather than a traditional large sponsor, paired with a small circular Air Asia badge above it and clean white finishes for both the FBT logo and the club crest.
Red Adidas F50 Messi 26-27 Signature Boots Leaked - New Image
Footy Headlines can now leak new image of the Adidas F50 Messi 26-27 signature boots, which will be released soon. Big thanks to Pejie.
he boots feature a predominantly red look with white and black accents, including the iconic Three Stripes, and their design language is inspired by the 2000s era, giving them a retro feel.
Borneo FC 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
Indonesian side Borneo FC Samarinda have officially unveiled their new home and away kits for the 26-27 season. The launch marks the return of local Samarinda brand Etams as the club's official apparel partner.
The Borneo FC 2026-27 home kit comes in the club's signature vibrant orange, covered in a bespoke tonal graphic pattern celebrating the spirit of Pesut Etam, the team's iconic dolphin mascot. The jersey features an overlapping V-neck collar, subtle matching sleeve trim, and white detailing for the player names and numbers on the back.
The Borneo FC 2026-27 away kit introduces a clean white base paired with the same intricate embossed pattern running across the front and sleeves. It is complemented by bold orange accents on the polo collar, cuffs, and sponsor applications, providing a stylish contrast for their domestic and continental fixtures.
Real Avilés Industrial 26-27 Away Kit Released
Spanish Primera Federación club Real Avilés Industrial CF has officially launched its new away kit for the 2026-27 season. Produced by Italian sportswear brand Macron as part of their fresh four-year partnership running until 2030, the kit was tested during preseason matches before making its official retail debut.
Billed by the Asturian club as "100% Industrial, 100% Granate," the Real Avilés 26-27 away jersey features a clean, solid claret/burgundy base. It is complemented by white branding accents, including the Macron Hero logo on the chest, the club crest, and the "Avilés Ciudad milenaria" main front sponsor print.
The away jersey follows the earlier presentation of the club's 2026-27 home kit, which blends Real Avilés' traditional identity with navy blue vertical stripes and subtle lighter blue accents on a white base, finished with granate collar and cuff trims.
Paksi FC 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
Hungarian OTP Bank Liga side Paksi FC have officially unveiled their new home and away kits for the 26-27 season, produced by Nike in partnership with Absolute Teamsport Focivilág.
The Paksi FC 26-27 home shirt features the club's traditional green base adorned with a modern, 3D-effect graphic made up of tiny dotted gradient patterns spanning the torso and sleeves. The shirt is finished with a clean white crew neck collar, a white Nike Swoosh, and white sponsor detailing, including main front-of-shirt sponsor Tippmix.
Sharing the exact same design blueprint, the Paksi FC 26-27 away shirt arrives in a sleek black and white colorway. Alongside the primary outfield kits, the club also presented their new goalkeeper range with dynamic patterned graphics across blue and dark bases, while confirming that last season's green and white striped shirt will also be carried over as an alternative option for the 26-27 campaign.
Ruch Chorzów 26-27 Cup Kit Released
Polish club Ruch Chorzów has officially unveiled a special cup kit for the 26-27 season, made by Adidas in collaboration with teamwear partner NO10. The new shirt is dedicated to the team's campaign in the Polish Cup (Puchar Polski).
The Adidas Ruch Chorzów 26-27 cup jersey features a dynamic look based around a dark blue base combined with an intricate gold and light blue diagonal pattern across the front and lower back. Gold accents are applied to the Adidas three stripes on the shoulders, the performance logo, and a recolored gold and blue Ruch Chorzów crest on the chest. The kit also prominently incorporates club partners and sponsors, including STS, ALBA, and the fan association Wielki Ruch.
Matching dark blue shorts and socks with gold details complete the look of the new Ruch Chorzów 2026-27 cup uniform.
