Euros 2024 may be over, but the start of a new football season is just around the corner.
With each season comes a new set of kits for mega-fans which come and go with the names on the transfer list, but a growing appreciation for football shirts as collectors’ items is fast becoming as big a business.
What is a mystery football shirt box?
Not least for canny companies following the tried-and-tested mystery beauty box model (Think Liberty’s Beauty Drop, or Lookfantastic’s Beauty Box), but with football shirts.
Are mystery football shirt boxes expensive?
The price point may be a little higher, but several companies have entered the market over the last few years, offering football fans the chance to get hold of a mystery shirt box.
The boxes contain kits from everyone across the spectrum from major European players to obscure League MX minnows, in some cases with the opportunity to rule major rivals out of the running, or boxes themed around specific tournaments.
Whether it’s last season’s Paris St Germain classic home shirt or Club Deportivo Guadalajara’s 2021/22 eye-catching pink and white away kit, there’s something for everyone.
The beauty of it is that it’s a much more affordable option than your Premier League club’s brand-new kit, and you never know what you’re going to get: the element of surprise can be addictive.
Nonetheless, it’ll no doubt serve as a conversation starter in the pub or make a wonderful unexpected gift for the footie fan in your life.
Best mystery football shirt boxes at a glance
- Best overall: Mystery Shirt in a Box - £39 - £60
- Best for returns: Enigma Football - £14.99 - £47.99
- Best for international shirts: Mystery Football - £7.99 - £82.99
- Best for value: Mystery Jersey King - £19.99 - £34.99
- Best for sustainability: Mystery Football Shirts - £24.99 - £49.99
How we tested
All the options listed provided sample boxes which were compared on price, choice, extras, and sizes available.
Mystery Shirt in a Box
Best: overall
Price: £39 - £60
Mystery Shirt in a Box was founded by football fanatics after noticing a gap in the market, and agreeing that they would have enjoyed this product, growing up. Indeed, it’s offering for children is broader, with shirt boxes as well as full kits, in addition to men’s and women’s boxes. Customers can opt for a general mystery box in adult or kid’s sizes, as well as a guaranteed 23/24 season shirt.
Based on the success of the football offering, the business has branched out into NBA and NFL shirts, for which, unlike the football shirt boxes, don’t have a subscription offer, yet.
All orders come with a free A6 print, packet of Haribo, and an information card with details about the team whose shirt you’ve received, and you can also opt to exclude teams, colours or leagues.
Buy now £39.00, Mystery Shirt in a Box
Enigma Football
- Best for: hassle-free returns
- Price: £14.99 - £47.99
Launched during the 2020 lockdown after the founders noticed the increasing expense of new kits for major clubs, and uninspiring designs, Enigma offers mystery football shirt boxes for adults and children, as well as scarves for a cheaper but equally fun alternative, as a one-off purchase, or a monthly subscription. It also offers retro boxes and England retro boxes as one-off purchases.
Customers have the option to swerve specific teams, leagues or colours they don’t like, and benefit from a 30-day money-back guarantee. This is rather more generous than competitors, in case they find that not all surprises hit the mark.
Buy now £14.99, Enigma Football
Mystery Football
Best for: international shirts
Price: £7.99 - £82.99
Mystery Football was founded by football shirt collector, Matt, who has worked diligently to build a brand identity for the company.
The site offers a huge range, with as many as 19 types of mystery box, including scarves, balls, national shirts, as well as a box devoted to African Cup of Nations teams. Notably, the boxes are relatively cheap compared to some others on the market.
Though at £79.99 for a 24/25 season shirt, you won’t be paying much less than the RRP for a new shirt. Don’t know what to get for the football shirt lover in your life? Get them a gift card, which is also available in the online shop.
The more basic boxes are available as one-off purchases and as a subscription.
Buy now £7.99, Mystery Footbal
Mystery Jersey King
Best for: value
Price: £19.99 - £34.99
Mystery Jersey King started in 2021 while its founders were on furlough during the pandemic. Having worked to build relationships with manufacturers all over the world, the company claims to benefit from a huge variety of shirts.
Although its selection of mystery boxes - categorised simply into men’s, women’s and kids - is somewhat narrower, their cost is comparatively favourable at more than £10 less for a full-price one-off purchase of their men’s and women’s boxes, than many of its competitors.
They also offer both one-off and subscription boxes, so you can try it out for size commitment-free.
Buy now, Mystery Jersey King
Mystery Football Shirts
- Best for: Sustainability
- Price: £24.99 - £49.99
One of the original mystery football shirt boxes available on the market, Mystery Football Shirts offers a “classic” box, containing – as the name would suggest – a classic football shirt from between 1990-2011, as well and men’s, women’s and kid’s basic boxes, and shirts from the 21/22 season.
Where it comes into its own, is its pre-loved box, which is kind on the environment as well as the wallet, making it a very affordable option.
The box comes with an information card as well as a pin badge or sticker.
Buy now, Mystery Football Shirts
Verdict
Compared to other sites, Mystery Shirt in a Box is, admittedly, on the pricier side - but the range offered is good. The NBA shirts are a genius idea in a country with a growing interest in the sport but less emotional attachment to specific clubs, unlike football.
