Last Friday started like any other Friday. Then, suddenly, it wasn’t.
We weren’t expecting any major news, but the rumour that had been circulating since the night before was eventually confirmed: On was making a major entrance into football, signing Kylian Mbappé and taking him away from a potential new deal with Nike. Once the dust had settled, we sat down to make sense of the move.
It’s not every day that a new player enters football with the kind of ambition, resources and possibilities that On brings to the table. So we looked back at other brands that have tried to challenge the established order — some with success, others less so. And one question kept coming back to us: could On become the new Nike of football?
Mbappé’s move from Nike to On gave us an opportunity to look back at some of the most significant sponsorship switches in sport. Another major change in sponsorship is expected in 2027 when Nike will become Germany’s kit supplier: this is the reason why this week we got adidas’ last ever jersey for Die Mannschaft. By the way, we were in Mexico City for El Clásico de México, the match between América and Chivas. We took some great photos.
Milan Fashion Week is in full swing. We had the chance to meet Curtis Jones at the Marni show and interview Maduka Okoye at Udinese’s party to unveil their new third kit. Football was also featured during Vogue World, but in a way that made us ask: are we really looking at the future of football in fashion, or is it still rooted in the past?
Although football has entered its first international break, the world of sport never stops. This weekend, our focus is on Naples, where the second Preliminary Regatta of the 38th America’s Cup is taking place. If you’re not into sailing, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered with a list of all the key terms you need to know.
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Larissa Iapichino has had an almost perfect 2026, capped by a new Italian long jump record of 7.12 metres and a summer packed with major results. With European gold, a Diamond League silver and an Ultimate Championship title, she is now set to become the world No. 1 in the women’s long jump. Yet she is still finding the time to study law, as she confirmed in our interview.
While Barcelona will leave Camp Nou at the end of the season once again, Valencia’s fans are still waiting for the opening of a stadium which is already 20 years old. How is that possible? Here’s your answer.
We opened this newsletter with the news that Kylian Mbappé had joined On, and we’re closing it with even bigger news: Harry Kane is considering joining the NFL. See you next week.