Adidas and MLS to Release No New 2027-28 Kits When First Fall/Spring Season Begins
- MLS Schedule Change: MLS is shifting to a Fall-to-Spring schedule starting in 2027, aligning with the European football calendar.
- Transition Period: A shortened tournament will occur in early 2027 to bridge the gap between the traditional and new schedules.
- Kit Release Delay: Adidas and MLS are expected to release kits in February 2027, but will likely not release any new kits until July 2028 to align with the new season start.
A massive structural revolution is coming to Major League Soccer (MLS), and it is going to completely disrupt the annual kit release schedule. As MLS prepares to align with the global football calendar, Footy Headlines breaks down what this means for the future of Adidas MLS jersey launches.
The End of the Traditional MLS Calendar
The current 2026 MLS season will be the final campaign operating under the traditional format (running from February to November). Starting in 2027, the league will officially adopt a European-style "Fall-to-Spring" schedule.
However, to bridge the gap between the two formats, MLS will implement a unique transition period. Here is how the upcoming timeline looks:
- 2026 MLS Season: Traditional format (February 2026 - November 2026).
- 2027 Transitional Season: A shortened, temporary tournament (February 2027 - May 2027).
- 2027-28 MLS Main Season: The new permanent format (Late July 2027 - May 2028).
The Kit Release Dilemma: What Happens to "Jersey Week"?
Historically, Adidas and MLS have always released all new kits in February, just weeks before the season kicks off. But with the main season shifting to a late July start, the traditional release window is thrown into chaos.
Because of the shortened "Transitional Season" taking place from February to May 2027, teams will still need their annual kit updates at the start of the year. Therefore, it is highly expected that Adidas will maintain its traditional February release window for 2027.
Looking further ahead, the transition poses a massive logistical question for Adidas. Will they permanently move MLS kit launches to the summer (July/August) to match European clubs like Real Madrid, Arsenal, and Bayern Munich?
While a split release strategy - dropping a few kits in February 2027 and holding back a major launch for July 2027 - is a possibility, supplying an entire league twice in one year is highly unlikely.
The most logical outcome is that the 2027 kits drop in February, and the entire league permanently shifts its kit launch window to the summer starting in July 2028 for the 2028-29 season.
Do you prefer MLS kits being released in February, or are you excited for them to join the traditional European summer kit launch window? Let us know in the comments below.
Vintage Football Shirts
from Cult Kits
1999 Puebla Home Shirt (M) Atletica
1998/99 Real Madrid J.M Guti #14 Away Shirt (XL) Adidas
1998/00 Barcelona Rivaldo #11 Home Shirt (M) Nike
1993 Yokohama Flugels Home Shirt (M) Puma
Bad Tackle – Tote Bag
2000/01 Everton Gerrard #1 GK Shirt (M) Puma
2002/03 Galatasaray Xavier #12 Home Shirt (M) Umbro
2008 Urawa Red Diamonds Home Shirt (L.Kids) Nike
2004/05 Real Madrid Zidane #5 Away Shirt (XL) Adidas
Cult Boots Adidas Copa Mundial Tee
Club America 26-27 Away Kit Leaked - 5 New Pictures
Footy Headlines can now leak 5 new pictures of the Club America 26-27 away kit. Although it is a fake, the design is identical to the real one.
The kit features a dark grey and black base with a large V-shaped chevron graphic on the front and back.
Milan 26-27 Home Kit Debuted
AC Milan debuted their new 2026-27 home kit in yesterday’s final Serie A match. The design brings back the club’s traditional striped look for home games.
However, it turned into a disappointing debut, as the team suffered a 1-2 defeat to Cagliari Calcio, consequently missing out on qualification for the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League.
Adidas x KITH x Messi Special Collection Drops May 29
Kith and adidas Football have teamed up with Lionel Messi for a collection marking the 20th anniversary of the player's first World Cup appearance in 2006 and Kith's 15th anniversary. The three-way collaboration includes Argentina-inspired jerseys co-designed with Messi to his exact specifications. Early previews feature designs with the star's "M" logo, Kith branding, adidas elements, and numbers including 10 and 19, nodding to different stages of his international career.
Ronnie Fieg has shared multiple looks via social media showing various colorways and styles that blend football heritage with Kith's aesthetic. The collection is scheduled to release on May 29, 2026, through Kith.com, with a broader range of apparel, footwear, and accessories expected alongside the jerseys.
The project comes ahead of the 2026 World Cup and aligns with Messi's time at Inter Miami. Additional details on pricing and the full lineup will be confirmed closer to the launch date.
New Adidas Three Stripes Become Even Thicker Sometimes
The new Adidas 2026-2027 kits have been worn around the whole of Europe this weekend. With more and more on-pitch debuts, another feature of the new kits becomes obvious.
Instead of utilizing traditional stitched-on fabric strips or standard heat-pressed decals, the famous Three Stripes are now directly engineered into the woven fabric of the side panels. This has the effect that the bigger 3 stripes get even bigger when the shirt is stretched.
Umbro Launches Nations 2026 Collection
Umbro has released the Nations collection, inspired by the 2026 World Cup. The designs are available for **Brazil, Argentina, France, England, Japan and Morocco**. Rather than official team replicas, the pieces feature authorial reinterpretations with custom color palettes, exclusive graphics, crests and typography developed specifically for the project.
Each jersey includes symbolic details tied to the respective nation's identity, balancing minimalist and bolder approaches. Umbro Brazil director Eduardo Dal Pogetto noted that the aim was to go beyond traditional sportswear and create pieces representing the energy and identity of various nations with a modern outlook for daily use.
The jerseys are available now on the official Umbro Brazil website and select retailers, priced at R$349.99.
Arsenal Switches to Home Kit for Title Celebrations
After securing the Premier League title while playing in their Trefoil-adorned third kit, the Arsenal squad made a deliberate wardrobe change into their traditional 25-26 red and white home kit to actually lift the trophy.
This evokes memories of FC Barcelona, who famously wore orange but switched to their home shirt for the title lifting. In contrast to Arsenal, Barcelona just switched the shirt and kept the orange shorts and socks.
Do you like teams switching into their primary colors after the final whistle to ensure historic celebrations are captured in their iconic home kits?
Manchester City Debuts 26-27 Home Kit
Man City did not wear the special golden inscription for Pep Guardiola. This edition was exclusively available at the stadium store, limited to 500 shirts.