THE BALL THAT SIGNALS FOOTBALL IS BACK. INTRODUCING THE 26’ FA COMMUNITY SHIELD OFFICIAL MATCH BALL
There are few moments in football quite like the opening whistle of the FA Community Shield.
After months of waiting, domestic football returns. Stadiums fill again. Rival fans share the same anticipation. The noise builds, the first tackle flies in, and a new season finally begins.
To celebrate that moment, Mitre has unveiled the Official Match Ball for the 2026 FA Community Shield, a design inspired by one thing above all else: the roar of the crowd.
Every competition has its own story, and every Official Match Ball we create is designed to reflect it. For this year's Community Shield, the inspiration came from the unmistakable sound that greets the start of a new season. The surge of anticipation. The shared excitement. Thousands of supporters becoming one voice.
Flowing graphics radiate across each panel like soundwaves travelling through a packed stadium, bringing that atmosphere to life through the ball's design. Overlapping reds, yellows, blues and purples merge into new shades, symbolising the coming together of clubs, fans and communities for football's traditional curtain-raiser.
Premium silver detailing across Mitre's signature Delta chevrons pays tribute to the Community Shield trophy itself, celebrating the first piece of domestic silverware up for grabs each season.
A Historic Setting
This year's Community Shield sees Premier League champions Arsenal face Emirates FA Cup winners Manchester City at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Sunday 16 August.
With Wembley Stadium unavailable, the fixture will be staged outside England for the first time since 2006, adding another memorable chapter to one of English football's most iconic occasions.
Built for the Biggest Stage
While the design tells the story of the occasion, the technology underneath is engineered for elite performance.
The Ultimax Pro features Hyperflow debossed grooves to improve flight stability and reduce drag, helping deliver greater accuracy and consistency throughout the game. A Hyperfoam mid-layer provides a responsive touch and close control, while the ball is constructed for exceptional durability, zero water absorption and outstanding shape retention.
The Community Shield ball also sits within Mitre's wider Flow State creative platform, exploring the moments where instinct, confidence and performance come together at the highest level of the game.
From the traditions and supporters to the defining moments on the pitch, every ball is built to perform at the highest level while celebrating the identity of the tournament it belongs to.
When Arsenal and Manchester City walk out at the Principality Stadium this August, the first touch of the new domestic season will come from a ball designed to capture exactly what that moment feels like: football is back.
