Manchester City Fans to Design Official Kit for the 26/27 Season with AI
Manchester City and PUMA have launched the PUMA AI Creator, an innovative platform that allows fans to design the club’s official third kit for the 2026/27 season using artificial intelligence. Here’s everything you need to know about know about this groundbreaking and innovative collaboration.
A Revolutionary Idea
In December 2024, Manchester City partnered with PUMA to launch the PUMA AI Creator—a revolutionary platform that lets fans design the club’s official third kit for the 2026/27 season using artificial intelligence. This initiative marks a major milestone in professional football, giving supporters an unprecedented chance to shape the team’s on-field look. Ederson, Stefan Ortega, and Rico Lewis showcased the platform’s potential by collaborating on a bespoke goalkeeper kit, which will become the first AI-designed football kit worn on the pitch and sold in limited quantities later this season. Click here to watch a video of how the PUMA AI Creator was used by Manchester City players to design the new goalkeeper kit.
Fans Join of the Creative Process
The PUMA AI Creator invites fans to craft their own kit designs through text prompts, customization tools, and intuitive sliders. Participants receive 15 free design credits and two entries upon registration, with more credits available by rating other designs or through Cityzens membership and PUMA NFTs. Fans submitted their designs until December 20, 2024, after which PUMA and Manchester City experts shortlisted the top ten. In January 2025, public voting began to select the final design, which Manchester City players will wear ahead of the 2026/27 season. This project highlights the club’s innovative spirit and deepens the connection with fans by making them part of the creative journey.
The Role of AI in Football
Football clubs are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence to enhance their operations. Platforms like Hudl and StatsBomb help recruiters analyze video footage to identify players with specific technical and tactical attributes. Meanwhile, companies like ai.io convert vast datasets into insights that boost player and team performance. Hawk-Eye’s AI-powered tracking technology also sharpens the accuracy of key in-game decisions, from goal-line calls to offside rulings. These technologies are already in use by multiple football clubs, especially to improve their players’ performance on the pitch. The help of AI to create a specific kit design however, is a pioneering idea which will mark the beginning of a new era in football fashion.
If you’re further interested in PUMA’s projects as a growing brand, check out this story about the deal with the Premier League that allows them to be the official ball supplier from the 25/26 season on.
