Retail shelves across the United States are emptying faster than expected as the U.S. Men’s National Team continues its surprising run in the World Cup, leaving fans scrambling for the limited apparel that remains.
Nike, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Fanatics have reported limited inventories, with Nike’s home jersey only offered in a handful of player‑specific cuts and Dick’s stocking only a few sizes of Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie shirts.
Soccer.com and the U.S. Soccer web shop are down to a single size for both home and away kits, while the official store’s e‑commerce platform has already moved more than double the units sold during the 2022 group stage.
U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson confirmed the sales spike, noting that merchandise has appeared in ten times as many retail locations as four years ago.
A surge that outpaces supply
The phenomenon mirrors the surge that followed the U.S. men’s hockey team’s Olympic gold medal, when Nike and Adidas also struggled to meet demand for their national‑team jerseys.
Adidas, which is also having trouble supplying Germany jerseys and other national kits, declined to comment, echoing Nike’s silence on the matter.
Analysts say the limited releases are a deliberate strategy to avoid surplus inventory, even as the team’s early success was more predictable than the hockey gold that caught many off guard.
What’s next for the team and its apparel
The U.S. will meet Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET in the Round of 32, a match that could further intensify the jersey frenzy and keep the spotlight on the growing demand for official merchandise.
Fans hoping to snag a jersey before the next game may need to act quickly, as the current shortage is expected to persist until the tournament’s conclusion.