Football kit release dates aren’t random. They’re precise marketing decisions, aligned with competitions, transfer windows, and available media space. Understanding this logic lets you anticipate your favorite club’s releases, follow leaks before anyone else, and most importantly know when to buy to pay less.
In 2026, the usual calendar is particularly disrupted by the World Cup. Here’s everything you need to know, for this season and the ones after.
Why kits don’t come out just anytime
A football kit is above all a marketing product. Its release date is chosen to maximize visibility and sales, not to match your desire to buy one. Behind every launch is a whole team choosing the moment when football fans’ attention will be highest and least distracted.
Releasing a kit in May-June rides the end-of-season enthusiasm and captures summer purchases. Holidays, gifts, the approaching pre-season: it’s the ideal window. But if PSG releases its new kit on the day France plays its World Cup quarter-final, no one is looking at PSG’s kit.
That’s why top clubs look for a clear “media space.” In even years (Euro or World Cup), there are on average 15 major launches between June 15 and July 15, compared to 25 in odd years. The shift is real and measurable.
The typical calendar of a normal season
Outside of major competition years, this is the usual release rhythm. This logic applies to every season.
Clubs vs. national teams: two different logics
Confusion is common. In June, you might have the new France team jersey in your hands but still wait two more months for the PSG one. This is not an oversight: these are two schedules that follow radically different logics.
National teams
They schedule their releases around competitions. A jersey for a Euro or World Cup is released 6 to 12 weeks before the first match to maximize pre-tournament sales. For the 2026 World Cup (starting June 11), national team jerseys were expected between March and May 2026. France, Spain, Brazil, and Argentina all revealed their jerseys within this window. This is intentional: you have time to order it, receive it, and wear it before kickoff.
Professional clubs
They schedule their releases around the transfer window and pre-season. They want fans to see the new jersey worn by players from the first friendly matches in July-August, ideally with the new signings included. That’s why clubs usually wait until the end of the summer transfer window, which runs until August 31, to finalize their jersey communications.
If you’re looking for the France team jersey for the World Cup, find our full selection in the 2026 World Cup collection at Elite Fanstore.
2026: an unusual season because of the World Cup
The 2026-2027 jersey releases of major clubs have been postponed until after the World Cup to avoid launching during the global competition. Here is the status as of May 2026.
| Club | 2026 Strategy | Estimated / confirmed release |
|---|---|---|
| Bayern Munich | Released before the World Cup | May 2026 (revealed) |
| PSG | Delayed until after the World Cup | End of July 2026 |
| Real Madrid | Delayed until after the World Cup | End of July 2026 |
| FC Barcelona | Delayed until after the World Cup | August 2026 |
| Manchester United | Delayed until after the World Cup | End of July 2026 |
| Liverpool | Delayed until after the World Cup | End of July 2026 |
| Arsenal | Delayed until after the World Cup | August 2026 |
Estimated dates based on each club's habits and the 2026 World Cup context. Subject to change according to official announcements.
This delay creates a concrete opportunity: the 2025-2026 jerseys are currently on sale at most resellers, between 30% and 50% off, to clear stock before the season transition. It's the best time of the year to buy a current season jersey at a reduced price.
How to anticipate releases: follow the leaks
Leaks (jersey leaks) usually circulate 4 to 8 weeks before the official release. They come from photos of prototypes, references appearing on distributor websites, or press files leaking before their embargo.
To be informed first, here are the most reliable sources: the account @footyheadlines is the most globally renowned for jersey leaks. @kitmatcher and @fmscout on X are also very responsive. In French, Footpack, Dégaine, and Back To The Football cover releases with a more developed editorial perspective.
The advice no one gives: buy at the right time
This is the most useful information in this entire article, and the least shared elsewhere.
When the new jerseys come out in July-August, the previous season’s jerseys go on sale at most official retailers: between 30% and 50% off. For 90% of uses—going to the stadium, daily wear, gifting—a "last season" jersey is exactly the same as the new one in terms of quality, fabric, and printing.
The difference is purely aesthetic (the design changes) and sometimes symbolic (you wear the current season). But if you’re mainly looking for a quality jersey at the best price, the rule is simple: wait until mid-July to buy the previous season’s jersey at a discounted price, or start in early August to buy the new one without risking a stock shortage on the desired printing.
Two exceptions to keep in mind: if the club changed its kit supplier between the two seasons, the fabric and cut may be genuinely different. And if the player whose name is on the jersey changed clubs during the transfer window, the jersey from the previous season will look outdated.
While waiting for the end of July releases, find our France team jerseys for the 2026 World Cup already available, as well as our selection of training kits to keep you going until the new collections arrive.
Frequently asked questions about football jersey releases
When are the 2026 football jerseys released?
For the 2026-2027 season, releases are delayed compared to the usual calendar because of the World Cup (June 11 to July 19, 2026). Most major European clubs, PSG, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Manchester United, and Liverpool, have chosen not to launch their new jersey during the tournament to avoid media competition. Releases are expected between late July and August 2026. Some clubs, like Bayern Munich, anticipated by unveiling their 2026-2027 jersey as early as May 2026.
What are the best football jerseys for the 2025-2026 season?
The 2025-2026 season produced several jerseys noticed by connoisseurs. The national team jerseys for the 2026 World Cup particularly caught attention, notably those of Brazil, Mexico, and Portugal, which incorporate strong identity elements in their design. On the club side, Venezia FC maintains its aesthetic reputation with a 2025-2026 collection continuing its black and gold identity. The World Cup jerseys available on Elite Fanstore cover all participating teams.
What is the release date of the OM 2026 jersey?
Olympique de Marseille generally follows the calendar of French Ligue 1 clubs, with a home jersey release between May and June. For the 2026-2027 season, in the context of the World Cup, the new OM jersey release is expected between late June and mid-July 2026. For the most recent official information, the official OM store and Footpack’s X account are the most responsive sources.
When is the PSG 2026 jersey released?
PSG has chosen to delay the release of its 2026-2027 jersey until after the World Cup to benefit from clear media space. The release is estimated for late July 2026, in line with its usual pre-season launch strategy. This date generally coincides with the club’s first summer friendlies, which serve as a natural showcase for the new jersey. On Elite Fanstore, available PSG jerseys are updated as soon as they are officially on sale.
In summary
Football jersey releases follow a precise logic: maximizing visibility by avoiding media competition. In 2026, the World Cup pushes major clubs to after July. National teams have already released their jerseys for the tournament. The best time to buy at a reduced price is now for the 2025-2026 jerseys, or mid-July for the new discounted collections.
Find all our 2026 World Cup jerseys available now at Elite Fanstore.