Nike had four years. USMNT jerseys sold out anyway.

Nike’s USMNT jersey shortage and Adidas selling out of Curaçao’s never-worn away kit point to the same shift: World Cup kit demand is now driven more by fan sentiment and on-pitch performance than by allocation planning, leaving even brands with four years’ lead time caught short.

Nike appears to have significantly underestimated demand for US men’s football national team (USMNT) jerseys at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to a report originally published by The Athletic that has since been widely picked up across other media.

Empty shelves at every major retailer

As of last Friday, adult USMNT home and away jerseys were either cleared out or only available in limited sizes at Nike, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Fanatics, Soccer.com, and the official US Soccer store.

The US Soccer store alone reportedly sold twice as many jerseys online as it did through the equivalent stretch of the 2022 World Cup, with one anonymous retail executive warning that retailers could run out entirely within days, as told to The Athletic.

The timing has frustrated supporters, with some noting on social media that Nike had four years to prepare for the tournament on home soil.

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A restock is coming, but is it enough?

A Nike spokesperson has since confirmed to The Athletic that Nike, Fanatics, and US Soccer will release additional jersey stock, with the restock arriving as the USMNT enters the knockout stage.

As of June 30, 2026, the US Soccer store only had very limited adult stock in all US jerseys (usually in one size at one end of the size chart), Nike was sold out except for limited numbers of player name-embossed shirts, and Fanatics also had only size S of the adult home jersey.

The shortage comes off the back of a stronger-than-expected run for the US team, which clinched Group D and won two of its three group stage matches, before a narrow loss to Turkey.

It is not an isolated case either. adidas reportedly sold out of Curaçao’s pastel yellow away jersey before the tournament began, despite the team being eliminated without ever wearing it, underlining how closely tied national kit demand now is to fan sentiment and on-pitch performance, rather than allocation planning alone.

Famous sport kit and jersey shortages

● German kitmakers ran out of the letter “V” at the start of this World Cup. Bad news for fans wanting the names of players like Undav, Havertz and Pavlovic;

● Curaçao’s retro design pastel yellow away kit from adidas also exceeded imagined demand and largely sold out, even though it was never worn on the pitch at this year’s tournament;

● Nigeria’s2018 World Cup kit (Nike) sold out in minutes and is allegedly the first jersey to retail straight over its RRP;

● And in rugby, France’s unusual light blue kit (adidas) celebrating the team’s 120th anniversary for a match against England in the 2026 Six Nations sold out in under 24 hours leading to subsequent drops which have also sold out.