Ajax Forced to Wear Third Kit at Home vs Benfica Due to Benfica's Bad Kit Lineup
Nov 26, 2025, by Chris
- Kit Clash: Ajax is forced to wear their third kit at home against Benfica due to Benfica's away and third kits being too similar to Ajax's home kit, causing a clash under UEFA regulations.
- Benfica's Kit Issues: Benfica's current set of kits, including a red home kit, white away kit, and off-white third kit, do not provide enough contrast to Ajax's home colors, preventing Ajax from wearing their traditional kit.
- Historical Context: This isn't the first time this has occurred, as Ajax had to switch kits in a previous home fixture against Benfica in 2018-19, and the Ajax U19s will also wear their blue away kit due to kit issues.
Update: Ajax were forced to wear their third kit instead of their usual home kit in their own stadium because Benfica's badly chosen cream away and white third kits clashed with Ajax's home kit.
Ajax will take to the pitch in their third kit on Tuesday when they host Benfica in the Champions League. UEFA’s colour-clash regulations leave no room for Ajax to use their traditional white-red-white home kit.
Benfica's 25-26 kit lineup
Benfica's 3 Kits of the 25-26 Season Are Too Similar to Ajax's Home Kit
Benfica’s set of shirts offers no acceptable contrast: the home is red, the away is white, and the third is an off-white tone that comes too close to Ajax’s own colours. Ajax pushed to wear their home strip but were told it wasn’t possible. Benfica also stated they no longer hold previous-season kits, ruling out a workaround like Ajax once used in the 2016-17 Europa League run with a bright green away shirt.
This isn’t new between the clubs. Ajax also had to switch kits in the 2018-19 home fixture. They did wear home colours in 2022, though that match ended in a 1-0 loss.
Ajax’s U19s will face Benfica earlier in the day in the Youth League, wearing the blue away kit since no third kit with the appropriate sponsor logo exists for the academy teams.
What do you think of Ajax being forced out of their home colours at the Johan Cruijff Arena due to Benfica having no suitable kit? Let us know in the comments.
Chelsea 26-27 Third Kit Spotted for Sale
Chelsea's new 26-27 third kit has been spotted on retail shelves and has now begun appearing across select Nike online stores, providing a full look at the retro-infused design ahead of its formal club launch. Following initial leaks over the past week, the shirt has already surfaced in both player-issue and replica versions in multiple locations. Big thanks to @batsflip.
In-store displays show the kit equipped with the USDC by Circle front-of-shirt sponsor and the gold FIFA Club World Champions crest positioned centrally between the Nike swoosh and the club badge. Clean, sponsorless editions have also appeared on official retail channels, complemented by matching white shorts and socks.
Stade de Reims 26-27 Third Kit Released - Celebrating 100 Years of Circuit de Gueux
Puma and Stade de Reims have officially unveiled the club's new third shirt for the 26-27 campaign. The design serves as a tribute to the historic Circuit de Gueux racing track located just outside the city, marking the 100th anniversary of its opening in 1926.
The Puma Stade de Reims 26-27 third jersey is predominantly black, accented by curved light grey brush-stroke graphics across the body that resemble skid marks on asphalt. A contrasting grey V-neck collar, matching cuffs, and grey side panels complete the frame, while the club crest, manufacturer branding, and sponsor prints appear in clean monochrome white.
A standout finishing touch can be found at the lower hem in the form of a special commemorative jock tag. The badge features the Circuit de Gueux layout, the French tricolor, a checkered flag motif, and the inscription "100 ANS 1926-2026". The new third kit is available through the club's official webshop.
Sunderland Announce Shuffle as Official Sleeve Partner
Sunderland AFC have announced a new multi-year agreement with Shuffle, naming the centralized crypto casino and sports betting platform as the club's Official Sleeve Partner. The Shuffle branding will make its on-pitch debut on the first-team kits starting this weekend.
The deal replaces LiveScore Bet, who served as Sunderland's sleeve sponsor during the 25-26 season. While Premier League regulations prohibit front-of-shirt gambling sponsorships starting in the 26-27 campaign, betting and casino brands remain permitted to feature on shirt sleeves.
Shuffle's logo will be displayed on the sleeve of Sunderland's kits throughout the multi-year partnership, providing global visibility for the platform as the Black Cats continue to overhaul their commercial lineup.
BG Pathum United 26-27 AFC Champions League Two Home Kit Released
Thai League club BG Pathum United has officially revealed its dedicated home kit for the 26-27 AFC Champions League Two campaign. Produced by Nike, the jersey adapts the club's domestic home look into a streamlined, competition-compliant design for continental action.
The 26-27 ACL2 home shirt utilizes the same royal blue base and template as the standard domestic kit, accented by dark navy ribbing on the collar and sleeve cuffs alongside white side panel details. To adhere to AFC equipment regulations, the domestic sponsors have been stripped away. In place of the usual LEO front sponsor, the continental version showcases a white Singha Corporation graphic paired with the player's squad number on the front, complemented by a monochrome white club crest and Nike Swoosh.
The Nike BG Pathum United 26-27 AFC Champions League Two home kit is now available through the club's official club store and online shop, priced at 999 THB with optional full flex printing.
Newcastle Jets 26-27 AFC Champions League Elite Home & Away Kits Released
A-League side Newcastle Jets have officially revealed their new 26-27 home and away kits for their upcoming AFC Champions League Elite campaign. Crafted by New Balance, the special collection takes direct inspiration from the kits worn during the club's very first Asian continental adventure back in 2009.
The Newcastle Jets 26-27 ACLE home jersey is predominantly gold, highlighted by a navy panel across the upper chest and shoulders separated by a thin red accent line. The retro-inspired template is completed with gold shorts and socks. Inverting the palette, the away jersey features a deep navy base topped with a contrasting gold chest block and matching red piping, paired with navy shorts and socks.
Both shirts feature the club crest, New Balance logos, and the Wadam Living sponsor across the midriff, as well as the official AFC Champions League Elite tournament sleeve patch on the right arm.
CR Belouizdad 26-27 Home Kit Released
Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 side CR Belouizdad have officially unveiled their new home kit for the 26-27 season, produced by Puma. Designed as a celebration of the club's legacy and identity, the shirt brings a classic look back to the forefront for the capital side.
The Puma CR Belouizdad 26-27 home shirt is predominantly red, anchored by a bold white chevron across the chest. It incorporates a white V-neck collar, patterned white sleeve cuffs, and a subtle "1962" detail on the sleeve honoring the year of the club's founding. The CRB crest with its championship star is placed over the chest alongside white Puma branding and the logo of main sponsor Madar Holding.
Built with Puma's dryCELL performance fabric and RE:FIBRE recycled materials, the new jersey is completed by matching red shorts and red socks.
Vitesse 26-27 Airborne Kit Released
Dutch club SBV Vitesse and technical partner Robey Sportswear have officially launched their special 2026-27 Airborne kit. Continuing an annual tradition that dates back to 2007, the kit commemorates the 1944 Battle of Arnhem and Operation Market Garden, and will be worn during the club's annual Airborne fixture in September.
Themed "V van Vrijheid" (V for Freedom), the shirt also pays tribute to a silent act of resistance during the club's 50th anniversary in 1942, when players formed a large 'V' on the pitch in a subtle nod to the Allied Victory sign. The jersey is presented in a deep bordeaux base covered in dynamic tonal chevron patterns that form subtle 'V' shapes across the torso. Contrasting sky blue accents highlight the collar, sleeve cuffs, and underarm panels, with a white poppy placed centrally on the chest between the Robey branding and the club crest.
Matching bordeaux shorts and sky blue socks decorated with claret chevrons complete the uniform. The Robey Vitesse 26-27 Airborne kit is available to purchase now through the club's official online store.
Cambodian Premier League Becomes First Asian League to Introduce "Debut" Sleeve Patches
The Cambodian Premier League has surprised kit enthusiasts and football followers by introducing an official "CPL DEBUT" sleeve patch, making it the first domestic league in Asia to adopt a dedicated debut patch on match shirts. While high-profile competitions across the continent like the Saudi Pro League, Japan's J.League, and South Korea's K League have yet to implement such badges, Cambodia's top flight has embraced the global trend.
Positioned directly underneath the official Cambodian Premier League crest on the right sleeve, the badge features a compact rectangular design with a bold red background and white "CPL DEBUT" lettering. The patch is applied to kits exclusively for players making their first-ever career appearance in the Cambodian Premier League, commemorating their milestone game on the pitch.
The concept takes inspiration from the debut patch movement that originated in American sports like Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer, which recently expanded to European football via UEFA and Topps for the UEFA Champions League. While the Cambodian version is an independent initiative by the league rather than a licensed trading card memorabilia tie-in, it adds a unique detail and collectible charm to debutants' match-worn shirts.