Women’s football needed boots. They scanned 200 feet to make it happen

Women's football is experiencing rapid growth globally, with a 2025 Nielsen Sports study projecting it to become one of the top five sports worldwide by 2030. In Argentina, a 2026 WINN Sports and Voices! report found that one in four women had played football at least once in the previous year. This surge in participation has sparked demand for specialized sporting goods, leading the Argentine startup NITA to develop a line of football boots specifically designed for women's feet.

The project began in 2023 during the World Cup, when the issue of women-specific boots gained attention. Historically, women footballers have been forced to use men's boots or unisex models, often struggling to find the right gear. NITA founder Felipe Manuk Devecyan addressed this issue by signing up for a shoe-making course, meeting with players, physiotherapists, and sports medicine specialists to understand the unique needs of women's football players.

To develop the boots, NITA partnered with a company specializing in 3D scanning to identify the key differences between women's and men's feet, such as width, ankle width, and foot height. The company scanned the feet of over 100 Argentine footballers and developed a sizing scale based on their findings. They also analyzed various sole configurations to optimize traction, ultimately deciding on traditional conical cleats for stability on grass or mixed pitches, and shorter rubber cleats for synthetic fields.

NITA's team welcomed a community that was receptive to the project, with players and clubs eager to help develop the boots. The boots not only address the issue of proper footwear but also aim to promote the growth of women's football. NITA partners with academies, high-performance training centers, and other organizations to support players' development both on and off the pitch.