Should Adidas Release Three Kits for Every MLS Team?

Following their promotion to the 2. Bundesliga and the announcement of a new long-term supplier deal with Adidas until at least 2031, the Energie Cottbus 2026-27 home kit has been released, while the away kit was spotted. The new shirt marks the club's transition to the Three Stripes for their upcoming campaign in Germany's second tier.

Cottbus' 26-27 kits are based on standard Adidas teamwear, the Adidas 26 Tiro Competition.

We can exclusively leak the upcoming Adidas River Plate EQT lifestyle jersey. Inspired by the brand's iconic early 1990s Equipment era, the shirt features a clean white base highlighted by oversized red EQT stripes over the shoulders. Both the classic black Adidas Trefoil logo and the River Plate crest are positioned centrally on the chest, completing the retro aesthetic.

There will also be a fitting t-shirt plus a tracksuit.

German 3. Liga side Rot-Weiss Essen has announced an expanded partnership with soft drink brand HOLY for the 2026-27 season.

Having served as an official partner during the previous campaign, the brand will now see its logo prominently displayed on the chest of the first team's warm-up and training kits.

While this development increases the sponsor's visibility within the club environment, fans and local media note that the highly anticipated announcement of Rot-Weiss Essen's new main match kit sponsor is still expected to take place later this month.

Berliner FC Dynamo has quietly unveiled a special pre-season kit for the 2026-27 campaign. Produced by Jako, the new shirt is designed specifically for the club's preparation matches ahead of the upcoming season.

The Jako Berliner FC Dynamo 2026-27 special pre-season jersey introduces a distinct design tailored for the team's summer exhibition games. As a dedicated pre-season release, it provides the club with an alternate aesthetic on the pitch before their standard home and away kits are officially introduced.

The 2026-27 Bundesliga season is approaching, and early kit releases have sparked widespread dissatisfaction among supporters. A recent viral discussion on social media highlighted the negative reception, with some fans suggesting that this could be an all-time bad year for German football jersey designs as multiple clubs unveil their new looks.

Specific complaints have been directed at several major teams across the league. Bayer Leverkusen's new kit has been heavily criticized and described by some as a black and red monstrosity. Schalke also drew mixed reactions; although some fans appreciated the general aesthetic, others were quick to point out the non-white Adidas stripes and compared the overall pattern to a copy of Croatia's national team shirts.

Despite the overwhelming criticism, not every release has been universally panned, as Borussia Monchengladbach's new shirt managed to earn a relatively positive reception from some supporters. With several clubs, including Freiburg, still yet to officially present their 2026-27 kits, fans are left hoping for better designs to salvage what has been a largely disappointing release cycle so far.

During Japan's 2026 World Cup group stage match against Sweden, Keito Nakamura was forced to leave the pitch to change his socks after referee Ivan Barton deemed his custom-cut gear unacceptable. Despite the socks reportedly passing pre-match equipment checks, the official stopped play to instruct the Japanese midfielder to replace them, leaving his team a man down for a few minutes. Nakamura's socks were heavily cut with holes in the back to expose his calves, a common practice among modern players seeking to relieve muscle tension.

Nakamura has been modifying his socks in this manner for over three years to reduce pressure on his calves and minimize the risk of cramping. Following the 1-1 draw, the 24-year-old expressed his confusion over the sudden enforcement, stating that being forced to switch to standard, uncut socks mid-game made it difficult for him to play comfortably. The timing of the referee's decision also drew criticism from JFA president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, who questioned why the issue was not resolved before kickoff.

The incident quickly sparked debate online regarding the strict enforcement of equipment rules and its potential impact on player performance and safety. Despite the disruption, Japan secured second place in Group F and will advance to face Brazil in the Round of 32 of the tournament.