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A BATHING APE has launched its largest BAPE STA collection ever, a 48-colorway collaboration with KidSuper to celebrate the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The “SUPERBAPE CUP” collection features a colorway for each nation competing in the tournament, with every pair dressed in the BAPE STA’s signature patent leather.
Dennis Mazur, the London-based sneaker curator, archivist, and storyteller better known as SneakerDenn, contributed to the overall creative and strategic direction behind the project, including the release strategy and nation-specific seeding. He also submitted a colorway design for each of the 48 countries, with six of them making the final cut. The lineup includes France, where Mazur grew up and spent the majority of his life, along with Japan, Sweden, Australia, South Korea, and Uruguay.
This marks an important milestone for SneakerDenn, as this is the first time his designs have been put into production for public release, signaling a creative evolution from collector and storyteller to collaborator.
SneakerDenn first got involved in the project after KidSuper founder Colm Dillane saw his contribution to Bimma Williams’ 2025 “Collab of the Year” video, centered around the first KidSuper x BAPE collab. Dillane reached out to Mazur via Instagram DM and struck up a conversation, eventually leading to him privately sharing early mockups of the World Cup-themed BAPE STA project while it was still in its early stages.
As a lifelong football fan and avid BAPE STA collector, SneakerDenn immediately began independently creating his own mockups for the project with the help of his graphic designer brother, Leo Mazur. The goal was to make each shoe feel instantly recognizable to football fans from each nation, focusing less on national flag colors and more on the visual language of traditional football kits.
The expansive 48-colorway scope of this project calls to mind similarly ambitious collaborations from the likes of Pharrell Williams, whose 2015 “Supercolor” adidas Superstar collection featured 50 colorways, and, more recently, Virgil Abloh’s 50-pair Off-White x Nike Dunk project.
“When you put all the shoes together and have this massive poster with all the pairs, it kind of sends you back to Virgil and the fact that he was able to do something like that on a sneaker pack as well,” SneakerDenn tells Modern Notoriety. “Personally, Virgil obviously has been a major major part in my journey and inspiring me to learn more and contribute in this space.”
One of the SneakerDenn-designed colorways, Uruguay, also bears a resemblance to one of Virgil Abloh’s designs, the Off-White x Nike Air Force 1 “MCA” sample, though that wasn’t the initial intention when designing the pair.
“It wasn’t necessarily the goal to reference Virgil on that colorway, but it just happened that Uruguay’s team colors are baby blue and black, and one of my favorite Virgil sneakers of all-time is the MCA Air Force 1, especially the sample version,” says SneakerDenn. “The fact that I get my own take on a BAPE STA, which is a flip on the Air Force 1, and have a similar colorway, that’s obviously super special for me.”
All 48 colorways of the KidSuper x BAPE “SUPERBAPE CUP” collection are now available for pre-order on superbape.com. Check out the six colorways designed by SneakerDenn below.
KidSuper x BAPE STA “France”
Built around the nation’s unmistakable blue identity, with gold accents nodding to France’s traditional FFF rooster emblem. The France colorway carries particular significance for SneakerDenn given his French roots.
KidSuper x BAPE STA “Japan”
Although Japan’s flag is defined by white and red, the national football identity has long belonged to deep blue/white kits accented with subtle red detailing, a direction reflected in the final shoe. Given BAPE’s Japanese roots and cultural significance, the Japan colorway carries particular weight from a brand heritage perspective.
KidSuper x BAPE STA “Uruguay”
Centered around Uruguay’s iconic sky blue, while introducing strong black contrast inspired by recurring kit details seen throughout the nation’s football history. The ubiquitous contrast stitching make these one of the standout colorways.
KidSuper x BAPE STA “South Korea”
Reflecting the evolution of Korean football aesthetics over the last decade, moving beyond classic red-and-blue associations toward the stronger red-and-black combinations frequently seen in recent home kits.
KidSuper x BAPE STA “Australia”
A direct tribute to the unmistakable green-and-gold sporting identity synonymous with Australian national teams.
KidSuper x BAPE STA “Sweden”
Inspired by the nation’s instantly recognizable yellow-and-blue palette, arriving fittingly as Sweden became one of the later teams to secure qualification.
