The Torn Shirt Incidents
The 2026 World Cup has witnessed a bizarre trend: four players from different countries have had their Puma-manufactured jerseys ripped to the point of needing a change. Every torn shirt was produced by the same German sportswear giant, raising questions over the durability of its cutting-edge Ultraweave fabric.
- Czech Republic vs South Korea: Midfielder Pavel Sulc had a large hole torn in his shirt in multiple places after being pulled back by a South Korean defender in the 25th minute.
- USA vs Paraguay: Defender Gustavo Gomez saw his shirt rip down the side while grappling with USA striker Folarin Balogun after just eight minutes. He stuffed the torn section into his shorts and continued before swapping jerseys later.
- Belgium vs Egypt: Winger Mustafa Zico suffered a horizontal rip across the centre of his shirt when fouled by defender Maxim De Cuyper.
- Scotland vs Morocco: Midfielder Neil El Aynaoui had his shirt torn across the middle while being held by centre-back Jack Hendry at a corner. He showed the damage to the referee in a bid for a penalty.
In each case, the damage occurred during tussles that are common in football, yet shirts from other manufacturers survived similar stress without issue.
Why Is This Happening? Puma's Ultraweave Explained
All four nations wear kits made from Puma's proprietary Ultraweave material, which the company bills as "the game's fastest football jersey". The fabric is extremely lightweight—a typical shirt weighs only 72 grams—and is composed primarily of recycled polyester. It features a four-way mechanical stretch designed to reduce friction and enhance freedom of movement.
However, early feedback from players and critics suggests that the material may have sacrificed durability for weight. Online reviews often praise the shirt's breathability and comfort but criticise its long-term resilience. When subjected to pulling or grappling, the ultra-thin fabric appears more prone to tearing than traditional kit materials.
Puma responded to the incidents with a statement, defending the design choices:
"As football is a high-contact sport, garments can be affected when jerseys are subject to severe force or extreme physical stress. Importantly, these instances do not impact player performance. Player feedback has shown that they prefer lighter materials in their jerseys to achieve a better performance at the highest level. That's why during the development of jerseys, we prioritised lightweight in combination with movement, breathability, and comfort."
The company added that the Ultraweave shirts underwent "vigorous wear testing" over a year before being rolled out to its partner nations. Alongside the affected countries, Puma also supplies kits for Austria, Ivory Coast, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Senegal, and Switzerland at the tournament.
Key Takeaways
- All four shirt tears at the 2026 World Cup involved Puma-manufactured kits, pointing to a material-specific issue.
- The Ultraweave fabric prioritises extreme lightness (72g) over robustness, making it more vulnerable to tearing during physical battles.
- Puma insists the design does not affect player performance and was chosen based on player preference for lightweight kit.
- Other kit manufacturers' shirts have not suffered comparable damage in similar situations.
- Fans buying the 'authentic' version of the jerseys may experience the same durability concerns.
Quick Facts
Material: Ultraweave
Weight per shirt: 72 grams
Composition: Recycled polyester
Teams affected: Czech Republic, Paraguay, Egypt, Morocco
Puma's other 2026 World Cup teams: Austria, Ivory Coast, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Senegal, Switzerland
