70% of Manchester United Players Wear Long-Sleeved Kit in 26-27 Home Kit Debut
May 17, 2026, by Chris
- Game Debut: Manchester United debuted their 2026-2027 home kit in a match against Nottingham Forest, winning 3-2.
- Kit Preference: 70% of Manchester United's starting outfield players wore the long-sleeved version of the new Adidas kit.
- Sleeve Trend: Professional players are increasingly favoring traditional long-sleeved jerseys over short sleeves with thermal baselayers.
Manchester United successfully debuted their new 2026-2027 home kit with a 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest, but it was the players' styling choices that caught the eye of kit insiders. Huge thanks to Vietnamese experts Chuyện Áo Đấu for the spot.
Manchester United Players Show Strong Preference for Long-Sleeved Kits in 26-27 Home Debut
A striking 70% of the outfield starting lineup - seven out of ten players chose to wear the long-sleeved version of the new Adidas shirt. The only starting outfielders to opt for the traditional short sleeves were the defensive trio Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martínez, and Luke Shaw.
This clear preference for long sleeves extended to the substitutes as well. Second-half arrivals Patrick Dorgu and Joshua Zirkzee both entered the pitch wearing the long-sleeved variant of the 26-27 home kit. The only exception among the outfield substitutes was Mason Mount, who chose to wear the short-sleeved shirt paired with a matching long thermal undershirt.
Browse Manchester United FC kit history on Football Kit Archive
The prominent display of long-sleeved shirts in this fixture highlights a growing trend among professional players who are moving away from wearing modern thermal baselayers in favor of traditional long-sleeved jerseys.
While Adidas continues to offer retail versions of these specific long-sleeved shirts, both in the short and long-sleeved variants, other big brands like Nike and Puma miss this opportunity.
Do you prefer the classic look of traditional long-sleeved football shirts or short sleeves paired with a baselayer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
J.League x Pokémon: 60 Clubs, 60 Pokémon
The J.League has announced one of its most creative collaboration yet, teaming up with Pokémon for the 'Pokémon J.League Fest 'EVOLUTION!'' campaign ahead of the 2026-27 season.
All 60 clubs across J1, J2 and J3 have been paired with their own Pokémon, with the campaign following each Pokémon's evolution throughout the season across official artwork, graphics and promotional content.
The collaboration also celebrates 30 years of Pokémon (1996-2026) while building excitement for the new J.League campaign, which kicks off on 7 August.
Fans attending matches will receive one of one million exclusive EVO BAGs, each featuring Pikachu alongside the home club's partner Pokémon.
This isn't the first crossover between the two either. Back in 2014, the J.League and Pokémon launched the Family Join Days campaign, where young supporters received exclusive Pikachu trading cards at stadiums.
If your favorite club could be paired with any Pokémon, which one would you choose? Let us know in the comments below.
Hoffenheim Call Out Twitter Accounts Promoting Fake Kits
German club TSG Hoffenheim has taken a humorous approach to address a growing trend on social media involving the promotion of counterfeit football shirts. The club's official account posted a sarcastic message mimicking the exact language used by accounts that advertise fake kits. The post claimed to have found a really cool site for authentic shirts of top quality and insisted the endorsement was entirely voluntary, before directing users to a link in the replies.
Instead of linking to a counterfeit retailer, Hoffenheim's reply simply provided the URL to their official club shop. The joke directly targets a widespread practice on social media where various football-focused accounts promote unauthorized replica stores. In exchange for posting these scripted advertisements, the account owners typically receive a small number of free fake kits, valued at around 35 Euros, rather than monetary compensation.
1. FC Nürnberg 26-27 Home Kit Leaked - Official Pictures
The first real pictures of the 1. FC Nürnberg 2026-27 home kit have been leaked online by @Bundesleaker. Made by Adidas, the new FC Nürnberg 2026-27 home jersey will be worn in the UPCOMING 2. Bundesliga season.
Iwate Grulla Morioka 26-27 Home, Away & Goalkeeper Kits Released
Japan Football League team Iwate Grulla Morioka have unveiled new kit collection for 2026-27 season. The designs are made by famous English brand Umbro.
The four kits share two different templates: The white home kit and pink goalkeeper home kit features 3-D diagonal graphic with gradient effect, whereas the red away kit and yellow goalkeeper away kit use outlined stripes along with black and white details.
What do you think of Iwate Grulla Morioka 2026-27 kits? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Koper FC 26-27 Home, Away & Third Kits Released
Slovenian PrvaLiga runners-up Koper FC have introduced their three new kits for 2026-27 season, partner with Macron for the 7th consecutive season.
The home kit featuring a striking yellow base with liquid-like pattern and blue trims. The same design is applied for the third kit, using black and gold as its colorway.
The away kit, on the other hand, uses a reverse pallete compared to the home kit, adding the city's skyline graphic across the chest.
What do you think of Koper FC 2026-27 kits? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.