What's Up with the Upper of the Adidas Ace 17+ PureControl?
Nov 28, 2016, by Pat
It's time to speak more about the confusion that is the Adidas Ace 17+ PureControl and its different uppers.
As you might have noticed over the last few days and perhaps already before the official launch, not just Paul Pogba, but ALL professionals are wearing a sort of prototype / sample of the Adidas Ace 17+ PureControl - one that's almost nothing like the one that hit retail and was dubbed a "16.5" by some.
An interesting perspective on the whole situation is offered by Unisport's JayMike who recently said that he hopes that the Ace 17+ PureControl will get updated before its eventually replaced by the Ace 18+. Now, this could just be his inner boot nerd speaking, but it would be extremely naive to assume that a person in his position would voice something along those lines without knowing at least something.
Another point in favor of an update of the Ace 17+ PureControl upper at one point is the fact that all leaked colorways feature the second upper. If Adidas had settled on reverting to the 16+ upper for whatever reason, one would assume that later samples, for example for the Fall / Winter 2017 period, would be based on the definitive upper by now.
All in all, we are fairly certain that we'll see the Ace 17+ PureControl's real look instore sooner than later. Possibly already with January's Checkered Black edition. If you cannot wait to try out what the pros are wearing, you should probably give the 'Tango' rendition of the Ace 17+ PureControl, available with turf and indoor outsoles, a try. By the looks of it, its upper is identical to the earlier leaks of the cleated edition, i.e. what the professionals are wearing.
So why is so important for Adidas to update the upper? First, it's kind of odd to release a boot that's virtually unchanged and branding it as a whole new edition - or at least that's what people could feel in this situation. Additionally, we believe it's important that players are not advertising boots that have almost nothing in common with what they are wearing on the field, as e.g. Paul Pogba is doing currently. We feel that this could hurt Adidas reputation with time.
There are also a number of more practical reasons to update the upper. For one, there where a few critics of the initial laceless PureControl boots voiced concerns about the fit being too loose in general - an update could help resolve this. Also, the 16+ PureControl's upper construction, while getting rid of laces, added a second compression techfit layer. It looks like the 'real' Ace 17+ PureControl upper is just one layer, which could offer a better connection with and improved feel for the ball.
What do you think? Share your thoughts on the Ace 17+ PureControl upper controversy in the comments below.
Blackpool 26-27 Third Kit Released - 125 Years of Bloomfield Road
English League One club Blackpool FC and Puma have officially unveiled their special third kit for the 2026-27 season. The limited-edition jersey doubles as a commemorative anniversary release celebrating 125 years of the club calling Bloomfield Road their permanent home since 1901.
The Blackpool 26-27 third shirt features an off-white base covered in an intricate archival collage graphic. The print incorporates historical references from throughout the ground's history, including vintage crests, old match tickets, and nods to iconic stadium stands such as Spion Kop and the West Paddock. A prominent horizontal band in the club's signature tangerine stretches across the chest, framing the Fylde Coast Homes sponsor, complemented by a tangerine crew neck collar, matching Puma cat logos, and a retro club crest.
Only 1,901 individually numbered shirts will be produced, paying tribute to the stadium's founding year. The Blackpool 2026-27 third kit goes on sale online and at the club shop on August 29, 2026, ahead of their league encounter against Peterborough United.
US Sambenedettese 26-27 Third Kit Released
Italian Serie C club US Sambenedettese and technical sponsor Erreà have officially launched their new third kit for the 2026-27 season. Designed by Erreà Creative Lab, the shirt completes the club's set for the new campaign alongside the previously released home and away jerseys.
The Sambenedettese 26-27 third jersey introduces a stylish petrol green base, paired with vibrant red logos and detailing alongside navy blue accents. It features a classic polo collar with a dual-color red and navy V-insert at the neck, matched by striped sleeve cuffs.
Deeply rooted in local culture, the design pays homage to San Benedetto del Tronto by incorporating verses by celebrated local poet Bice Piacentini into the shirt. A monochromatic red club crest and matching sponsor applications round off the refined look.
CD Toledo 26-27 Away Kit Released
Spanish club CD Toledo and technical sponsor Joma have officially launched the new away kit for the 2026-27 season. Unveiled under the motto "Toledo brilla. Con luz propia" (Toledo shines with its own light), the design brings a sharp and elegant look for the Tercera Federación outfit.
The Joma CD Toledo 2026-27 away jersey features a black base detailed with thin vertical gold pinstripes running down the front and sleeves. A subtle geometric jacquard pattern is incorporated into the fabric, while the club crest, Joma logo, and front sponsor branding from Cerveza LA SAGRA all appear in a clean, matching monochrome gold.
Black shorts and socks with gold accents complete the new Joma CD Toledo 2026-27 away strip.
Sandhausen 26-27 Away Kit Released
The new SV Sandhausen 26-27 away kit has been unveiled. Made by Italian brand Macron, the new strip introduces a clean and stealthy look for the German side.
The Macron SV Sandhausen 2026-27 away shirt is predominantly black, accented with dark grey trim on the collar and sleeve cuffs. The design keeps things classic and understated, paired with crisp white sponsor logos and a monochrome SV Sandhausen crest on the chest.
Black shorts and socks complete the new Macron SV Sandhausen 26-27 away strip.
