GS Nike Jr. Mercurial Vapor 17 Academy
Colorway: Bright Crimson/Blur · Style code: IO0142-600 · Price: $65 · Availability: Available now
Where to buy: Nike
More colorways: GS Nike Jr. Mercurial Vapor 17 Academy (IO0142-001) · GS Nike Jr. Mercurial Superfly 11 Club "Kylian Mbappé" (IR0788-701) · GS Nike Jr. Mercurial Superfly 11 Academy "Kylian Mbappé" (IR0790-701) · GS Nike Jr. Mercurial Vapor 17 Pro "Kylian Mbappé" (IR1653-701) · GS Nike Jr. Mercurial Superfly 11 Academy "Kylian Mbappé" (IV5817-701)
The turf build of the Mercurial Vapor 17 Academy swaps a studded plate for a rubber outsole, which is what separates a shoe for short synthetic surfaces from one meant for a full pitch. Above that sole, it keeps the NikeSkin upper used across the Mercurial range, a thin synthetic layer designed to sit close to the foot so the ball is felt rather than dulled. The traction pattern is worked into the rubber instead of protruding as studs, supplying grip for turns and stops on turf. Lacing is standard, the collar is cut low, and this big kids' pair comes in Bright Crimson with Blur.
The shoes are scheduled to release on August 20, 2026 at a retail price of $65. Academy is the mid tier of Nike's Mercurial line, above Club and below Pro and Elite, and Vapor denotes the low-cut half of the silhouette family. Nike is dating an artificial-grass version of this same model to August 20 as well, at the same price, so the pair of releases covers two different synthetic surface types.