Nike addresses World Cup jersey issue with steaming instructions
The Guardian Sport • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 11, 2026, 4:14 PM
Last updated Jun 11, 2026

Nike has instructed national federations to steam their World Cup jerseys to address a bulging shoulder seam issue that was noted during the kits' debut in March. The problem, observed on various players, including Kylian Mbappé, has been acknowledged by the company, though they confirmed no design changes would occur due to the proximity of the tournament. Instead, Nike recommends the shirts be washed and steamed before wear. This guidance aims to mitigate the issues before the World Cup commences.
- •Nike identified bulging shoulder seams on World Cup jerseys.
- •Instructions include washing and steaming the jerseys before use.
- •No design changes to jerseys are planned ahead of the tournament.
- •Kylian Mbappé was among players noted for the seam issue.
- 4:14 PMThe Guardian Sport — Nike instructs federations to steam World Cup jerseys to fix shoulder seam issue
"After acknowledging an issue with bulging shoulders in the shirts’ March debut, the company offered a solution that comes down to different treatment World Cup newsletter | Daily podcast | Download the app When Nike’s World Cup kits debuted in March, many fans identified a bizarre detail: an unsightly bulge along the shoulder seam. The bulge was subtle on some players while on others, such as France’s Kylian Mbappé, it was borderline comical. It felt entirely unrealistic that the design of the shirts would be fundamentally changed with only three months left before the start of the World Cup, and on Wednesday, a source familiar with Nike’s plan confirmed that they hadn’t altered the shirts in any way. What Nike had done, the source told the Guardian, is offer instructions to member federations in terms of how to care for the jerseys: wash them before wearing them, and steam the shoulder seams. Continue reading...
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