Dress Shoes for the Pitch: adidas Debuts the Handball Spezial Loafer

Published February 5, 2026 at 9:15 PM

Quick Facts

Hitting shelves in three office-appropriate colorways, the Spezial Loafer is ready for a quick lunch break soccer game in black, beige, and creamy off-white
The terrace culture favorite takes a turn on the upper, though, covered in a one-piece sheet of soft suede split up by a moccasin-style bump wrapping around the toe
The adidas Handball Spezial Loafer will be released Spring 2026

After a year full of sneaker-loafer hybrids that saw brands across the footwear industry convert running silhouettes to office-ready dress shoes with spiffy penny loafer uppers, it looks like the trend is here to stay. The adidas team is doubling down on the half-dressy, half-sporty model, converting the soccer fan favorite Handball Spezial to a loafer with no laces and a decorative strap across the forefoot.

We first got word of the Spezial Loafer silhouette in November last year, but now we’ve finally got official images of the first three colorways and a release window. Hitting shelves in three office-appropriate colorways, the Spezial Loafer is ready for a quick lunch break soccer game in black, beige, and creamy off-white.

The bottom half of the shoe is constructed just like a traditional Handball Spezial with a textured midsole and grippy outsole made for indoor soccer. The terrace culture favorite takes a turn on the upper, though, covered in a one-piece sheet of soft suede split up by a moccasin-style bump wrapping around the toe. The side panel keeps the classic Three Stripes logos and adds a metallic Trefoil to the side of the forefoot strap.

The adidas Handball Spezial Loafer will be released Spring 2026 through adidas online and in-store. Available in unisex sizing, the retail price is still TBD. For all the latest sneaker loafer hybrid news and drop info, download the Sole Retriever mobile app.