FIFA World Cup 2026: लियोनल मेसी से लेकर क्रिस्टियानो रोनाल्डो तक इन खिलाड़ियों ने पेनल्टी में दागे हैं सबसे ज्यादा गोल
अर्जेंटीना के गैब्रियल बतिस्तुता ने 4 प्रयास में 4 गोल किए हैं। पुर्तगाल के यूसेबियो…
अर्जेंटीना के गैब्रियल बतिस्तुता ने 4 प्रयास में 4 गोल किए हैं। पुर्तगाल के यूसेबियो…
Iran’s national football team was headed to Turkey on Monday to play a final friendly match before flying to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, the country’s media reported.
“The Iranian national football team… departed this morning for Antalya, Turkey, to play its final friendly match before flying to the United States for the 2026 World Cup,” the Tasnim news agency reported.
It said the squad consisted of 22 domestic-based players alongside their coaching staff.
On Saturday, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said they would also be completing visa applications for the US while in Turkey.
The team’s participation in the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, comes amid a fragile ceasefire between Iran and the US which paused 40 days of war that began on February 28.
The US cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 1980 following the Islamic Revolution and the hostage crisis at the American embassy.
Iran hopes to play two friendlies in Antalya.
The side has already confirmed one match, against Gambia, on May 29, said Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian who heads a company that sets up friendlies for the team.
READ: Preliminary Iran squad for FIFA World Cup 2026—Sardar Azmoun left out
“No visas have been issued yet,” Mehdi Taj, the Iran football federation head, told Iranian media on Thursday.
Taj said players were expected to undergo fingerprinting in Turkey as part of the visa process but wished to avoid a trip of more than 380 kilometres from Antalya to Ankara.
On Saturday, FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom held a meeting in Turkey with the Iranian federation, describing it as excellent and constructive.
Taj also described Saturday’s meeting as “positive and constructive” without going into details.
When the squad reaches the United States, Iran will set up its base camp in Tucson, Arizona.
The team, which is in Group G, is due to kick off its World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 before facing Belgium in the same city and then Egypt in Seattle.
Published on May 18, 2026
Iran’s national football team was headed to Turkey on Monday to play a final friendly match before flying to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, the country’s media reported.
“The Iranian national football team… departed this morning for Antalya, Turkey, to play its final friendly match before flying to the United States for the 2026 World Cup,” the Tasnim news agency reported.
It said the squad consisted of 22 domestic-based players alongside their coaching staff.
On Saturday, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said they would also be completing visa applications for the US while in Turkey.
The team’s participation in the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, comes amid a fragile ceasefire between Iran and the US which paused 40 days of war that began on February 28.
The US cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 1980 following the Islamic Revolution and the hostage crisis at the American embassy.
Iran hopes to play two friendlies in Antalya.
The side has already confirmed one match, against Gambia, on May 29, said Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian who heads a company that sets up friendlies for the team.
READ: Preliminary Iran squad for FIFA World Cup 2026—Sardar Azmoun left out
“No visas have been issued yet,” Mehdi Taj, the Iran football federation head, told Iranian media on Thursday.
Taj said players were expected to undergo fingerprinting in Turkey as part of the visa process but wished to avoid a trip of more than 380 kilometres from Antalya to Ankara.
On Saturday, FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom held a meeting in Turkey with the Iranian federation, describing it as excellent and constructive.
Taj also described Saturday’s meeting as “positive and constructive” without going into details.
When the squad reaches the United States, Iran will set up its base camp in Tucson, Arizona.
The team, which is in Group G, is due to kick off its World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 before facing Belgium in the same city and then Egypt in Seattle.
Published on May 18, 2026
Iran’s national football team was headed to Turkey on Monday to play a final friendly…
South Africa plans to arrive in Mexico almost a fortnight before the opening game of the World Cup in order to acclimatise to the altitude, coach Hugo Broos said. Co-host Mexico opens the tournament on June 11 with a Group A match against South Africa at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, which is 2,200m (7,216 feet) above sea level.
While most of the South African players are based at clubs in Johannesburg, which has an altitude of 1,753m, Broos says his squad needs time to adjust to the conditions in Mexico before the opening game.
The squad will travel on May 30 to their base in Pachuca, which is around 200 metres higher than Mexico City. The city is less than 100 km from Mexico City.
“The first days it will be difficult to train at 100 per cent because of the altitude, so that is what we will do in the second week,” Broos said in a radio interview.
READ: Mexican goalkeeping legend Guillermo Ochoa to retire after FIFA World Cup 2026
South Africa plans to take on Nicaragua at home in a friendly on May 29, although this is not confirmed, and is negotiating to have Puerto Rico as a warm-up opponent for a second international scrimmage in Pachuca. In its other World Cup group matches, South Africa will meet the Czech Republic in Atlanta on June 18 and South Korea in Monterrey on June 24, seeking to advance past the first round for the first time in its fourth World Cup appearance.
“It’s not an easy group for us. First of all, we will face the host in the opening game, at the Azteca Stadium, and it will be very difficult for us there,” Broos said earlier in the year. But the veteran coach, who played for semifinalist Belgium at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, has also previously predicted his side could cause some upsets at the tournament, which is also being played in Canada and the U.S.
South Africa and Mexico drew 1-1 at Soccer City in Johannesburg in the opening game of the 2010 World Cup, which South Africa hosted.
Published on May 01, 2026
South Africa plans to arrive in Mexico almost a fortnight before the opening game of the World Cup in order to acclimatise to the altitude, coach Hugo Broos said. Co-host Mexico opens the tournament on June 11 with a Group A match against South Africa at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, which is 2,200m (7,216 feet) above sea level.
While most of the South African players are based at clubs in Johannesburg, which has an altitude of 1,753m, Broos says his squad needs time to adjust to the conditions in Mexico before the opening game.
The squad will travel on May 30 to their base in Pachuca, which is around 200 metres higher than Mexico City. The city is less than 100 km from Mexico City.
“The first days it will be difficult to train at 100 per cent because of the altitude, so that is what we will do in the second week,” Broos said in a radio interview.
READ: Mexican goalkeeping legend Guillermo Ochoa to retire after FIFA World Cup 2026
South Africa plans to take on Nicaragua at home in a friendly on May 29, although this is not confirmed, and is negotiating to have Puerto Rico as a warm-up opponent for a second international scrimmage in Pachuca. In its other World Cup group matches, South Africa will meet the Czech Republic in Atlanta on June 18 and South Korea in Monterrey on June 24, seeking to advance past the first round for the first time in its fourth World Cup appearance.
“It’s not an easy group for us. First of all, we will face the host in the opening game, at the Azteca Stadium, and it will be very difficult for us there,” Broos said earlier in the year. But the veteran coach, who played for semifinalist Belgium at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, has also previously predicted his side could cause some upsets at the tournament, which is also being played in Canada and the U.S.
South Africa and Mexico drew 1-1 at Soccer City in Johannesburg in the opening game of the 2010 World Cup, which South Africa hosted.
Published on May 01, 2026
South Africa plans to arrive in Mexico almost a fortnight before the opening game of…
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said demand for tickets to the 2026 World Cup had reached unprecedented levels, with 500 million requests already recorded for the expanded 48-team tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“You’ve heard, there were many discussions about the ticketing of the World Cup,” Infantino said at the FIFA Congress on Thursday. “We had 500 million ticket requests — 500 million ticket requests. In the last two World Cups together, we had 50 million ticket requests. Here, 500 million.”
Infantino said FIFA had already sold the vast majority of tickets released so far.
“We’ve sold 100 per cent of the inventory that we’ve put on the market, which is, more or less, 90% of the global inventory so far,” he said. “And of course, we are always putting tickets on the market.”
Ticketing has emerged as a sensitive issue in the build-up to the tournament, with concerns raised about affordability and access for local fans.
“There are expensive tickets, yes, but there are also affordable tickets,” Infantino added.
Football’s global governing body is expected to continue releasing batches of tickets in phases, a strategy designed to manage demand while maximising revenue for what is set to be the most lucrative World Cup in history.
Published on May 01, 2026
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said demand for tickets to the 2026 World Cup had reached unprecedented levels, with 500 million requests already recorded for the expanded 48-team tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“You’ve heard, there were many discussions about the ticketing of the World Cup,” Infantino said at the FIFA Congress on Thursday. “We had 500 million ticket requests — 500 million ticket requests. In the last two World Cups together, we had 50 million ticket requests. Here, 500 million.”
Infantino said FIFA had already sold the vast majority of tickets released so far.
“We’ve sold 100 per cent of the inventory that we’ve put on the market, which is, more or less, 90% of the global inventory so far,” he said. “And of course, we are always putting tickets on the market.”
Ticketing has emerged as a sensitive issue in the build-up to the tournament, with concerns raised about affordability and access for local fans.
“There are expensive tickets, yes, but there are also affordable tickets,” Infantino added.
Football’s global governing body is expected to continue releasing batches of tickets in phases, a strategy designed to manage demand while maximising revenue for what is set to be the most lucrative World Cup in history.
Published on May 01, 2026
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said demand for tickets to the 2026 World Cup had reached…
A top envoy to U.S. President Donald Trump has asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy in the upcoming World Cup, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.
The plan is an effort to repair ties between Trump and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after the two fell out amid the American president’s attacks against Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war, the FT reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
“I confirm I have suggested to Trump and (FIFA president Gianni) Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup. I’m an Italian native and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a US-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion,” U.S. special envoy Paolo Zampolli told the FT.
The White House, FIFA, the Italian Football Federation(FIGC) and Iran’s football federation (FFIRI) did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Italy suffered a shock in March after the national team missed out on the World Cup for the third time in a row following a 1-4 penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in their qualifying playoff final. Meanwhile, Iran has qualified for its fourth consecutive World Cup.
Iran reportedly issued a statement on Wednesday saying it was prepared for the tournament and planned to participate. Reuters could not immediately verify the report.
Iran had said earlier in April it would only decide on the national team’s participation in the World Cup once it received a response from FIFA over the relocation of its matches from the U.S. to Mexico.
Published on Apr 23, 2026
A top envoy to U.S. President Donald Trump has asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy in the upcoming World Cup, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.
The plan is an effort to repair ties between Trump and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after the two fell out amid the American president’s attacks against Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war, the FT reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
“I confirm I have suggested to Trump and (FIFA president Gianni) Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup. I’m an Italian native and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a US-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion,” U.S. special envoy Paolo Zampolli told the FT.
The White House, FIFA, the Italian Football Federation(FIGC) and Iran’s football federation (FFIRI) did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Italy suffered a shock in March after the national team missed out on the World Cup for the third time in a row following a 1-4 penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in their qualifying playoff final. Meanwhile, Iran has qualified for its fourth consecutive World Cup.
Iran reportedly issued a statement on Wednesday saying it was prepared for the tournament and planned to participate. Reuters could not immediately verify the report.
Iran had said earlier in April it would only decide on the national team’s participation in the World Cup once it received a response from FIFA over the relocation of its matches from the U.S. to Mexico.
Published on Apr 23, 2026
A top envoy to U.S. President Donald Trump has asked FIFA to replace Iran with…
New Jersey’s decision to charge $150 for a round-trip transit to World Cup games will have a “chilling effect” on fans, FIFA has warned as the fare represents a 10-fold increase from the usual $15 for the route.
The dramatic price hike adds to the cost of World Cup match tickets, which can run into the thousands of dollars, especially on the resale market. The MetLife Stadium is set to host eight matches, including the July 19 final.
New Jersey Transit CEO Kris Kolluri had defended the pricing, citing higher passenger volumes due to closed public parking around the stadium and increased costs from World Cup security requirements.
Heimo Schirgi, the Chief Operating Officer for the 2026 World Cup, said the price increase would force fans to look at alternative options.
“The NJ Transit current pricing model will have a chilling effect. Elevated fares inevitably push fans toward alternative transportation options,” Schirgi said in a statement.
ALSO READ | France to complete preparation against Northern Ireland on Jun
“This increases concerns of congestion, late arrivals, and creates broader ripple effects that ultimately diminish the economic benefit and lasting legacy the entire region stands to gain from hosting the World Cup.
“Furthermore, to arbitrarily set elevated prices and demand FIFA absorb these costs is unprecedented. No other global event, concert or major sporting promoter has faced such a demand.”
GOVERNOR SAYS ‘FIFA SHOULD PAY’
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill previously said NJ TRANSIT had been “stuck with a $48-million bill” to ensure fan safety while FIFA was making $11 billion.
“I’m not going to stick New Jersey commuters with that tab for years to come. FIFA should pay for the rides,” Sherrill said.
FIFA refuted Sherrill’s claim, saying they were generating $11 billion in revenue, not profits.
“FIFA has always been a not-for-profit organisation as per our statutes. Revenues from the FIFA World Cup are reinvested into developing the game of football, particularly for youth and women, worldwide,” Schirgi added.
“Lastly, we applaud our host city partners across the country who embraced this opportunity to showcase their region to visitors by providing low cost and often unchanged rates for mass transit.”
Published on Apr 18, 2026
New Jersey’s decision to charge $150 for a round-trip transit to World Cup games will have a “chilling effect” on fans, FIFA has warned as the fare represents a 10-fold increase from the usual $15 for the route.
The dramatic price hike adds to the cost of World Cup match tickets, which can run into the thousands of dollars, especially on the resale market. The MetLife Stadium is set to host eight matches, including the July 19 final.
New Jersey Transit CEO Kris Kolluri had defended the pricing, citing higher passenger volumes due to closed public parking around the stadium and increased costs from World Cup security requirements.
Heimo Schirgi, the Chief Operating Officer for the 2026 World Cup, said the price increase would force fans to look at alternative options.
“The NJ Transit current pricing model will have a chilling effect. Elevated fares inevitably push fans toward alternative transportation options,” Schirgi said in a statement.
ALSO READ | France to complete preparation against Northern Ireland on Jun
“This increases concerns of congestion, late arrivals, and creates broader ripple effects that ultimately diminish the economic benefit and lasting legacy the entire region stands to gain from hosting the World Cup.
“Furthermore, to arbitrarily set elevated prices and demand FIFA absorb these costs is unprecedented. No other global event, concert or major sporting promoter has faced such a demand.”
GOVERNOR SAYS ‘FIFA SHOULD PAY’
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill previously said NJ TRANSIT had been “stuck with a $48-million bill” to ensure fan safety while FIFA was making $11 billion.
“I’m not going to stick New Jersey commuters with that tab for years to come. FIFA should pay for the rides,” Sherrill said.
FIFA refuted Sherrill’s claim, saying they were generating $11 billion in revenue, not profits.
“FIFA has always been a not-for-profit organisation as per our statutes. Revenues from the FIFA World Cup are reinvested into developing the game of football, particularly for youth and women, worldwide,” Schirgi added.
“Lastly, we applaud our host city partners across the country who embraced this opportunity to showcase their region to visitors by providing low cost and often unchanged rates for mass transit.”
Published on Apr 18, 2026
New Jersey’s decision to charge $150 for a round-trip transit to World Cup games will…
France will complete its World Cup preparation against Northern Ireland in Lille on June 8, days after opening its warm-up campaign against Ivory Coast, the French federation said on Thursday.
Didier Deschamps’ side will host Northern Ireland at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in what will be its final fixture before heading to the June 11-July 19 World Cup.
Les Bleus will start their Group I campaign against Senegal on June 16 in New York before taking on Iraq and Norway.
The runner-up from 2022 was handed a major injury blow earlier this week with star forward Hugo Ekitike being ruled out of the quadrennial event due to an ankle injury.
Published on Apr 16, 2026
France will complete its World Cup preparation against Northern Ireland in Lille on June 8, days after opening its warm-up campaign against Ivory Coast, the French federation said on Thursday.
Didier Deschamps’ side will host Northern Ireland at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in what will be its final fixture before heading to the June 11-July 19 World Cup.
Les Bleus will start their Group I campaign against Senegal on June 16 in New York before taking on Iraq and Norway.
The runner-up from 2022 was handed a major injury blow earlier this week with star forward Hugo Ekitike being ruled out of the quadrennial event due to an ankle injury.
Published on Apr 16, 2026
France will complete its World Cup preparation against Northern Ireland in Lille on June 8,…
FIFA’s leadership discussed the possibility of its president, Gianni Infantino, asking United States President Donald Trump to pause ICE raids during this summer’s World Cup in North America, according to a report from The Athletic.
Infantino was receptive to the idea and was planning a “president-to-president” request to Trump for ICE’s role surrounding the World Cup to be reduced, per the report. It has not yet been reported if Infantino has formally made the request or how Trump and the U.S. administration would respond.
During Trump’s second term, ICE has raided multiple U.S. cities in an effort to deliver on the President’s message of mass deportation he campaigned on ahead of the 2024 election. In addition to deportations, these raids have led to conflicts with protestors, including the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti earlier this year in Minneapolis.
Acting ICE (U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement) director Todd Lyons previously said agents would be involved in security at matches for this summer’s event, the largest World Cup in FIFA history with 48 teams.
Members of Congress have raised concerns about ICE’s presence surrounding the World Cup leading instead to immigration-enforcement raids. Los Angeles-based workers at SoFi Stadium — where the U.S. team will play two of its three group-stage games — threatened to strike last week over similar concerns.
ALSO READ: Matt Crocker quits as US football federation sporting director just 2 months before World Cup
According to the report, a number of FIFA member federations, particularly in Europe, have shared their concerns about the presence of ICE agents around the event.
FIFA originally believed that limiting ICE activity in the 11 American cities that will be hosting matches would suffice. However, with travel expanding well beyond those locations with teams setting up base camps across the country in cities that won’t be hosting matches, FIFA now desires a total suspension of all ICE raids during the entire World Cup, which is being held from June 11 through July 19.
Trump and Infantino have struck up a relationship which could pay off with the request being honored. FIFA has an office in New York’s Trump Tower and the organization gave the President the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize in December during the World Cup draw event.
Published on Apr 14, 2026
FIFA’s leadership discussed the possibility of its president, Gianni Infantino, asking United States President Donald Trump to pause ICE raids during this summer’s World Cup in North America, according to a report from The Athletic.
Infantino was receptive to the idea and was planning a “president-to-president” request to Trump for ICE’s role surrounding the World Cup to be reduced, per the report. It has not yet been reported if Infantino has formally made the request or how Trump and the U.S. administration would respond.
During Trump’s second term, ICE has raided multiple U.S. cities in an effort to deliver on the President’s message of mass deportation he campaigned on ahead of the 2024 election. In addition to deportations, these raids have led to conflicts with protestors, including the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti earlier this year in Minneapolis.
Acting ICE (U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement) director Todd Lyons previously said agents would be involved in security at matches for this summer’s event, the largest World Cup in FIFA history with 48 teams.
Members of Congress have raised concerns about ICE’s presence surrounding the World Cup leading instead to immigration-enforcement raids. Los Angeles-based workers at SoFi Stadium — where the U.S. team will play two of its three group-stage games — threatened to strike last week over similar concerns.
ALSO READ: Matt Crocker quits as US football federation sporting director just 2 months before World Cup
According to the report, a number of FIFA member federations, particularly in Europe, have shared their concerns about the presence of ICE agents around the event.
FIFA originally believed that limiting ICE activity in the 11 American cities that will be hosting matches would suffice. However, with travel expanding well beyond those locations with teams setting up base camps across the country in cities that won’t be hosting matches, FIFA now desires a total suspension of all ICE raids during the entire World Cup, which is being held from June 11 through July 19.
Trump and Infantino have struck up a relationship which could pay off with the request being honored. FIFA has an office in New York’s Trump Tower and the organization gave the President the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize in December during the World Cup draw event.
Published on Apr 14, 2026
FIFA’s leadership discussed the possibility of its president, Gianni Infantino, asking United States President Donald…
New Zealand defender Nando Pijnaker is in a race to be fit for the World Cup after suffering a dislocated shoulder in Auckland FC’s 2-2 draw with Melbourne Victory in the A-League over the weekend.
Pijnaker was expected to be among the centre-backs named in coach Darren Bazeley’s World Cup squad for the June 11 to July 19 finals in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Auckland FC confirmed Pijnaker’s injury on Tuesday but said in a statement that the Netherlands-born 27-year-old would seek further opinion from a specialist. Dislocated shoulders can take up to 16 weeks to heal. New Zealand opens its World Cup campaign against Iran on June 15.
Pijnaker joins injured New Zealand defenders Michael Boxall, Tommy Smith, Liberato Cacace and Francis de Vries on the sidelines, while midfielder Sarpreet Singh is also nursing a knee problem.
There was also better news for Bazeley over the weekend as Chris Wood, New Zealand’s captain and top goal-scorer, played his first match in nearly six months in Nottingham Forest’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Aston Villa after recovering from knee surgery.
New Zealand will also play Egypt and Belgium in the World Cup’s group stage as the All Whites return to the tournament for the first time since South Africa 2010.
Published on Apr 14, 2026
New Zealand defender Nando Pijnaker is in a race to be fit for the World Cup after suffering a dislocated shoulder in Auckland FC’s 2-2 draw with Melbourne Victory in the A-League over the weekend.
Pijnaker was expected to be among the centre-backs named in coach Darren Bazeley’s World Cup squad for the June 11 to July 19 finals in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Auckland FC confirmed Pijnaker’s injury on Tuesday but said in a statement that the Netherlands-born 27-year-old would seek further opinion from a specialist. Dislocated shoulders can take up to 16 weeks to heal. New Zealand opens its World Cup campaign against Iran on June 15.
Pijnaker joins injured New Zealand defenders Michael Boxall, Tommy Smith, Liberato Cacace and Francis de Vries on the sidelines, while midfielder Sarpreet Singh is also nursing a knee problem.
There was also better news for Bazeley over the weekend as Chris Wood, New Zealand’s captain and top goal-scorer, played his first match in nearly six months in Nottingham Forest’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Aston Villa after recovering from knee surgery.
New Zealand will also play Egypt and Belgium in the World Cup’s group stage as the All Whites return to the tournament for the first time since South Africa 2010.
Published on Apr 14, 2026
New Zealand defender Nando Pijnaker is in a race to be fit for the World…
Nike is investigating a design issue affecting several national team kits before the FIFA World Cup 2026, British media reported on Friday, after problems with the shirts became visible during last month’s international break.
Bulging around the shoulder seams was visible on shirts worn by teams including England, France and Uruguay during the international window.
A Nike spokesperson told The Guardian newspaper that the company had identified a “minor issue” with the kits, adding that performance was unaffected but the “overall aesthetic is not where it needs to be.”
The issue is present on both match shirts worn by players and replica versions sold to supporters, according to the BBC, with some fans raising concerns.
The American sportswear giant produces kits for a number of World Cup teams, including co-hosts the United States and Canada, as well as Brazil, the Netherlands, and Croatia.
The kits have been designed with cooling technology to help players cope with high temperatures expected at the tournament, which kicks off on June 11 and is also co-hosted by Mexico.
The issue comes as the struggling company faces questions over its product innovation and works through excess inventory after a string of weak earnings.
Chief Executive Elliott Hill has pledged to refocus Nike on core sports, and the company said on Friday it had appointed Andy Caine as chief innovation officer.
Nike did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Published on Apr 11, 2026
Nike is investigating a design issue affecting several national team kits before the FIFA World Cup 2026, British media reported on Friday, after problems with the shirts became visible during last month’s international break.
Bulging around the shoulder seams was visible on shirts worn by teams including England, France and Uruguay during the international window.
A Nike spokesperson told The Guardian newspaper that the company had identified a “minor issue” with the kits, adding that performance was unaffected but the “overall aesthetic is not where it needs to be.”
The issue is present on both match shirts worn by players and replica versions sold to supporters, according to the BBC, with some fans raising concerns.
The American sportswear giant produces kits for a number of World Cup teams, including co-hosts the United States and Canada, as well as Brazil, the Netherlands, and Croatia.
The kits have been designed with cooling technology to help players cope with high temperatures expected at the tournament, which kicks off on June 11 and is also co-hosted by Mexico.
The issue comes as the struggling company faces questions over its product innovation and works through excess inventory after a string of weak earnings.
Chief Executive Elliott Hill has pledged to refocus Nike on core sports, and the company said on Friday it had appointed Andy Caine as chief innovation officer.
Nike did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Published on Apr 11, 2026
Nike is investigating a design issue affecting several national team kits before the FIFA World…