Puma Kits Face Scrutiny After Players’ Shirts Tear During 2026 World Cup Matches

^{Moroccan midfielder Neil El Aynaoui’s shirt tore during the match against Scotland}

At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, attention has focused not only on goals and controversial incidents, but also on another detail: several players’ shirts have torn during matches, BBC Sport reported.

Since the start of the tournament, at least four players have been forced to change their kit during games after their shirts tore:

• South Korea v Czechia: Pavel Šulc’s shirt tore during an incident in which he was held by an opponent;
• United States v Paraguay: Gustavo Gómez’s shirt came apart during a challenge with an opposition forward;
• Belgium v Egypt: Mostafa Ziko’s shirt tore after contact with an opposition defender;
• Scotland v Morocco: Neil El Aynaoui’s shirt tore after a shirt-pulling incident.

In all recorded cases, the kits were made by Puma. Shirts from other manufacturers have not suffered similar tears in comparable passages of play.

Puma kits use Ultraweave material, developed with a focus on maximum lightness and reduced friction. Each shirt weighs around 72 grams and is made mainly from recycled polyester. The company says the material underwent years of durability testing.

^{The shirts tore so badly that they caused additional stoppages in play}

However, Puma has stressed that football is a contact sport and that kit can be damaged under heavy strain or sudden physical impact. According to the manufacturer, such incidents do not affect the performance of the kits.

The national teams wearing Puma kits at the tournament include Austria, Czechia, Egypt, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, New Zealand, Paraguay, Portugal, Senegal and Switzerland.