CORNERFLICK
Nike’s new World Cup 2026 shirts have drawn criticism after photos showed an unusual, pointed shape around the shoulders.
What first looked like a fitting issue or a camera angle has appeared across several players in training and match images, pointing to a design problem rather than a one-off mistake.
Nike unveiled the next generation of shirts under its Aero-FIT range a few months ago, saying the kits used advanced computational design and modern knitting methods to improve performance and ventilation. Reports in the British media say AI tools were also used during development, alongside human designers and engineering teams.
A Nike spokesman said the issue does not affect performance and is only cosmetic, but the company also admitted some final shirts fell short of expected standards. It said there was not enough time to redesign and remake them before the tournament.
Nike has reportedly told national associations to wash the shirts and steam-iron them before use to reduce the shoulder ridges. The backlash has also grown because some fan versions of the shirts are priced at more than $100.