England's footballers have been given new 'mind-altering shoes' by Nike, designed to improve focus and concentration ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The shoes, officially called the 'Mind 001 Men's Pregame Mules', were revealed by defender Ezri Konsa on Wednesday and have been trialled by the squad during training at Tottenham Hotspur's ground.
Head coach Thomas Tuchel confirmed that the players were encouraged to wear the shoes in camp this week, particularly during team meetings. 'They just told me they can focus better in meetings if they wear these shoes,' Tuchel said. 'I hope they believe it.' The shoes, which resemble Crocs or sliders, feature nodules on the soles that Nike claims engage sensory areas of the brain via mechanoreceptors underfoot.
The science behind the footwear is based on reflexology, activating pressure points on the foot to send signals to the brain. Described as a 'pre-game hack', the mules are intended to be worn before matches to give England an edge. Konsa was seen wearing a fluorescent orange pair at the training ground.
The shoes are priced at £79.99 per pair and are listed on Nike's website as available from January 2026. Tuchel, who wore different Nike trainers during his media appearance, joked about trying them before press conferences. England face Serbia in a World Cup qualifier on Thursday before travelling to Albania on Sunday.
