Nike 2026 World Cup Kits "Fit Like Chinese Fakes"
Jun 12, 2026, by Chris
- Poor Kit Fit: The Nike 2026 World Cup kits are widely criticized for their suboptimal fit, featuring extremely short sleeves, a very large collar, and an awkward cut around the shoulders and chest, drawing comparisons to cheap counterfeit shirts.
- Return of "Shoulder Gate": This poor fit is seen as a return of Nike's infamous "Shoulder Gate" issue, with the strange proportions being especially visible on athletic players, though US players opting for larger sizes had a better fit.
- No Immediate Solution: The issue has gone viral with fans mocking the kits, and Nike will not be able to address the fit of its 2026 World Cup kits for the upcoming tournament, impacting major teams like England, Brazil, and France.
The Nike 2026 World Cup kits have an odd yet infamous look.
Nike 2026 World Cup Kits Fit Suboptimal
As visible in the on-pitch pictures of the England 2026 away, Jordan Brazil 2026 away and other Nike 2026 World Cup kits, they "fit the like Chinese fakes." Extremely short sleeves, a very large collar and an awkward cut around the shoulders and chest - reminiscent of the cheap counterfeit shirts sold on Chinese marketplaces. Our post has gone viral, with fans mocking the fit of the Nike 2026 World Cup kits just days before the start of the tournament.
The poor fit marks the return of the infamous "Shoulder Gate" issue, which Nike has failed to fix on its 2026 World Cup kits. The strange proportions are especially visible on athletic players like Henderson, whose sleeves end far up the arm and create the unusual silhouette. Interestingly, the England players appear to have chosen very small kit sizes, which amplifies the issue, while the US players - representing Nike's homeland - have opted for larger sizes, resulting in a noticeably better fit on the pitch.
Nike will not to be able to still address the fit of its 2026 World Cup kits, with teams like England, Brazil, France and Portugal all wearing the template at the tournament. it remains to be seen if there will be a fix for the 26-27 season kits, but we don't think so.
What do you think of the fit of the Nike 2026 World Cup kits - acceptable or embarrassing for the world's biggest sportswear brand? Let us know in the comments below.
Burton Albion 26-27 Away Kit Released
English League One club Burton Albion have officially unveiled the 2026-27 away kit. Made by Admiral, the new shirt draws inspiration from the Brewers' long tradition of blue-and-white change kits.
The Admiral Burton Albion 2026-27 away shirt features a deep navy blue base with white detailing on the shoulders, collar and sleeve cuffs. Combining a timeless football shirt silhouette with modern finishing touches, the design celebrates Burton Albion's heritage while looking firmly to the future.
What do you think of the new Burton Albion 2026-27 away kit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Puma Czechia Kit Ripped at World Cup Available to Buy
Puma's kit durability issues surfaced once again during the World Cup. Now, one of the ripped kits is even available to purchase.
Czechia midfielder Pavel Šulc suffered a severe tear to his jersey during a match against South Korea, tearing away a large section of fabric right next to his squad number 15 and forcing him to leave the pitch for a quick kit change.
The exact torn shirt from the game has now been put up for auction on MatchWornShirt, as spotted by @ShirtSquadApp.
Liverpool 26-27 Away Kit Leaked - 2 New Pictures
Ahead of its official release, further promotional images of the Adidas Liverpool 26-27 away kit have been leaked by @KamilBerberler.
It will be released tomorrow, 29 July 2026.
Waldhof Mannheim 26-27 Home Kit Released
German 3. Liga club SV Waldhof Mannheim 07 and technical partner uhlsport have officially unveiled the team's new home kit for the 26-27 season. Joining the previously revealed away and third jerseys, the new home shirt introduces a bold look grounded in the club's traditional blue and black color scheme.
The uhlsport Waldhof Mannheim 26-27 home shirt features a prominent black vertical stripe running down the center, framed by vibrant blue side panels. Black sleeves with blue cuff trimming frame the jersey, while a sharp V-neck collar adds a clean finish. White branding, including the centered uhlsport logo and main sponsor Stölting, contrasts against the dark center panel alongside the club's diamond crest on the left chest.
FC Eindhoven 26-27 Home Kit Released
FC Eindhoven has officially revealed its new home kit for the 26-27 and 27-28 seasons. Made by technical partner Macron, the jersey continues the club's traditional look with classic blue and white vertical stripes across the body.
The design features a traditional white polo collar accented with subtle gold piping along the edges and shoulder seams. A geometric graphic pattern is integrated into the blue stripes to give the classic layout a modern texture, while long-term main sponsor VDL features prominently on the front.
On the upper back under the collar, a stylized blue wave icon is displayed alongside clean gold line accents. The new home kit is available for pre-order now via the official club store.
Rebranded FC Kharkiv Reveal Adidas 26-27 Home Kit
Following their complete rebrand from Metalist 1925, Ukrainian Premier League side FC Kharkiv have officially unveiled their new home kit for the 26-27 season. Made by Adidas as part of a new partnership, the launch introduces a revamped identity built around the club's new claret and gold color scheme.
The FC Kharkiv 26-27 home shirt features a rich claret base accented by bright gold details. Gold Adidas Three Stripes sit atop the shoulders, matching the brand logo on the right chest and the newly designed circular club crest on the left. A subtle, tonal pixel-grid pattern decorates the front body, while gold trim outlines the crew-neck collar and sleeve cuffs. Crypto platform WhiteBIT features as the primary front sponsor in white.
Fortuna Köln 26-27 Away Kit Released
German side SC Fortuna Köln and manufacturer Robey have officially launched the new away kit for the 26-27 season. The design pays direct homage to the classic kits worn by the club during the late 1990s, when Fortuna Köln competed in the 2. Bundesliga.
The Fortuna Köln 26-27 away shirt features a clean white base highlighted by a prominent red chest band bordered with black horizontal lines. Main sponsor HIT is integrated in white across the red band. Additional accents include a black and red trimmed collar, red Robey branding on the right chest, and the traditional club crest on the left.
Liverpool 26-27 Away Pre-Match Kit Leaked
Official images of Liverpool's 26-27 away pre-match kit have been leaked, offering a detailed look at the retro-inspired warm-up shirt made by Adidas. Thanks to @KamilBerberler.
The shirt features an off-white base paired with vibrant red raglan sleeves and a matching red V-neck collar.
Liverpool 26-27 Away Goalkeeper Kit Leaked
Official images of the new Adidas Liverpool 26-27 away goalkeeper kit have surfaced online ahead of its release. The shirt brings a classic retro look, featuring a purple torso paired with black sleeves and side panels. Inspired by Adidas goalkeeper templates from the 1990s, the design includes a subtle tonal graphic pattern running down the central purple section. Thanks to @KamilBerberler.
The Adidas Liverpool 2026-27 away goalkeeper kit is a tribute to the famous purple Liverpool keeper shirt from 1994-95.
