On Football Boots NZ: What We Know About the New Boots Coming in 2027

There’s a major new player entering the football boot market.

Swiss performance brand On has officially entered football, with its first football boots scheduled for release in 2027. And this isn’t a small-scale experiment. On is developing its new football range alongside Kylian Mbappé, Thierry Henry and FC Barcelona and Switzerland midfielder Sydney Schertenleib.

For football players in New Zealand, there’s an obvious question: will On football boots be available in NZ?

At this stage, we don’t know. Soccer United does not currently stock On, we have no commercial relationship with the brand, and New Zealand retail availability has not been confirmed.

But the development of the first On football boot is well underway, so here’s what we know so far.

Is On really making football boots?

Yes.

On officially announced its move into football in September 2026. The Swiss brand is developing football-specific footwear and has confirmed that its first products are planned for release during 2027.

On is best known for running shoes and its distinctive performance footwear technology, but its expansion into football brings the brand into one of the most competitive areas of the sporting goods industry.

Rather than simply adapting an existing shoe, On is developing a dedicated football boot with input from elite footballers.

Will On football boots be available in New Zealand?

This is the question we’re particularly interested in.

At the time of writing, On has not confirmed New Zealand retail distribution for its football boots.

The company says its first football products will be sold during 2027 through its own website, On stores and selected retail partners.

That should not be interpreted as confirmation that the football boots will be available through New Zealand retailers.

Soccer United does not currently stock On football boots and is not an authorised On retailer.

If that changes in the future, we’ll update this article.

Kylian Mbappé joins On Football

The biggest name attached to the project is Kylian Mbappé.

The France and Real Madrid forward joined On as a global partner in September 2026 after a long association with Nike.

Importantly, Mbappé’s role goes beyond simply wearing On football boots. He is involved in the development and testing of the new footwear, giving On direct feedback from one of the fastest and most high-profile players in world football.

Mbappé has already been seen testing white prototype On football boots, giving us our first look at the brand’s approach to performance football footwear.

Both laced and laceless On football boot prototypes are currently being tested.

That does not necessarily mean both versions will reach retail. With the first commercial release still planned for 2027, the boots remain in development.

Thierry Henry is On’s Director of Football

Another indication of how seriously On is taking football is the involvement of Thierry Henry.

The former France and Arsenal striker has been appointed Director of Football at On.

Henry had already been working behind the scenes with the company on its entry into football before the project was publicly announced. His involvement covers the wider football programme, including product development and athlete insight.

That gives On something particularly valuable as it enters a completely new category: genuine football experience alongside its existing footwear engineering expertise.

Sydney Schertenleib is helping develop the boots

Swiss international and FC Barcelona midfielder Sydney Schertenleib is also working with On on the development of its football products.

Her involvement is particularly interesting because On has indicated that it wants the needs of female footballers to be considered directly during product development rather than treating women’s football as an afterthought.

Exactly what that means for the eventual retail range remains to be seen, but On has confirmed that Schertenleib is participating in testing and development.

What is LightSpray technology?

One of the most interesting things about the new On football boots is how they are being made.

On is adapting its LightSpray technology for football.

LightSpray was originally developed for On’s performance running footwear. Instead of constructing an upper from numerous traditional pieces, the manufacturing process uses a continuous filament to create an extremely lightweight, seamless upper around a shoe form.

For football, On says the objective is to create a lightweight boot with a very close-to-foot feel.

That could be particularly interesting in a football boot, where players generally want a secure fit while maintaining close contact with the ball.

However, there is an important distinction to make.

LightSpray has already been used in running footwear, but its performance in a retail football boot has not yet been independently established.

Football boots face very different demands from running shoes, including repeated ball contact, rapid changes of direction, lateral loading, abrasion and the traction requirements of different playing surfaces.

The technology is promising. How well it works in a football boot is something we’ll only really know once the finished product arrives.

What do the new On football boots look like?

The prototypes tested by Mbappé provide some clues, but they should not be treated as finished retail boots.

So far, prototypes have appeared extremely minimal, with a lightweight-looking upper and a performance-focused soleplate.

On has confirmed that football-specific features including stud configurations and football-specific fits are being developed.

Both laced and laceless versions are being tested with Mbappé and Schertenleib.

That suggests On is still evaluating different approaches before settling on the final specification.

For now, any detailed claims about the final weight, stud configuration, fit, materials or performance of the retail On football boot would be premature.

Is the On football boot a new speed boot?

Everything seen so far suggests that lightweight performance is a major part of the development programme.

That makes comparisons with established speed boots such as the Nike Mercurial, adidas F50, PUMA Ultra and New Balance Furon inevitable.

Mbappé himself has spent much of his career associated with lightweight speed-focused football boots.

However, On has not yet announced an official boot category or positioning for its first model.

The interesting difference is LightSpray.

Rather than simply introducing another synthetic upper into the speed boot market, On is attempting to bring a manufacturing technology developed within its own performance footwear business into football.

Whether that translates into a genuinely different experience on the pitch remains to be seen.

What will the On football boot be called?

We don’t know yet.

On has not announced the official name of its first football boot.

There has already been online speculation about potential names and trademark registrations connected with On, but none has been confirmed by the company as the name of its first football boot.

Until On makes an announcement, any proposed product name should be treated as speculation.

We’ll update this article when the official On football boot name is revealed.

When will On football boots be released?

On has confirmed that its first football products are scheduled to become available in 2027.

An exact New Zealand release date has not been announced.

Likewise, the retail price, launch colourways and complete technical specifications of the first On football boots have not yet been confirmed.

How much will On football boots cost in NZ?

There is currently no confirmed New Zealand price for On football boots.

In fact, On has not yet announced the official retail price of its first football boot internationally.

Until official pricing is released, any suggested price for the new On boots should be treated as speculation.

Can you buy On football boots now?

No.

As of October 2026, the On football boots being seen on professional players are development prototypes, not commercially available retail football boots.

The first consumer products are scheduled for 2027.

If you see references to Mbappé’s On football boots online, it is important to distinguish between the prototypes currently being tested and the eventual production boot that consumers will be able to buy.

What does On still have to prove?

There’s plenty to be excited about, but entering the football boot market is not easy.

A successful football boot needs much more than low weight.

Fit, lockdown, traction, touch, soleplate response, stud pressure, durability and performance in different conditions all matter.

There are also major differences between firm ground, artificial ground and soft ground football boots, and we do not yet know which surface-specific versions On intends to release.

The finished product will need to demonstrate that On’s footwear technology can make the transition from running to football.

Until independent retail versions become available for testing, it’s simply too early to judge how the first On football boot compares with established football boot brands.

Are On football boots coming to Soccer United?

Nothing has been confirmed.

Soccer United has no current retail agreement with On and we cannot take orders or pre-orders for On football boots.

We’re following the development closely because a completely new performance brand entering the football boot market is significant news for players and boot buyers.

If On football boots become available in New Zealand, we’ll update this page with confirmed information on release dates, models, pricing and availability.

In the meantime, you can shop our current range of football boots, including options from established performance football brands available in New Zealand.

On Football Boots FAQ

Are On making football boots?

Yes. On officially entered football in September 2026 and is developing its first football boots for a planned 2027 consumer release.

When are On football boots coming out?

On says its first football products will be available in 2027. An exact release date has not yet been confirmed.

Can I buy On football boots in New Zealand?

Not currently. New Zealand retail availability for On football boots has not been confirmed.

Does Soccer United sell On football boots?

No. Soccer United does not currently stock On and has no confirmed retail relationship with the brand.

What football boots does Kylian Mbappé wear?

Mbappé is currently working with On and has been testing prototype On football boots as part of the development of the brand’s first football range.

Are Mbappé's On football boots available to buy?

No. The boots currently being tested are prototypes. Consumer On football products are scheduled for release in 2027.

What are the new On football boots called?

The official name has not yet been announced.

Do On football boots use LightSpray?

On has confirmed that its LightSpray technology is being adapted for football footwear.

Will On football boots have laces?

Possibly. On has confirmed that both laced and laceless versions are currently being tested during development.

How much will On football boots cost?

No official retail price has been announced, including a New Zealand price.

Will there be On football boots for women?

On is developing its football products with input from Sydney Schertenleib and has specifically highlighted innovation for the women’s game. The final retail range and sizing structure have not yet been announced.

Follow the On Football boot story in New Zealand

There are still plenty of unanswered questions about On football boots: the official name, price, release date, surface options, sizing and, importantly for Kiwi players, whether they will be officially available in New Zealand.

We’ll keep this article updated as reliable information becomes available.

Last updated: October 2026.