Nike admits World Cup kit flaw as England shirt among those affected despite huge price

"During the recent international break, we observed a minor issue with our Nike national team kits, most noticeable around the shoulder seam," a company spokesperson said.

"Performance is unaffected, but the overall aesthetic is not where it needs to be."

The admission represents an unusual misstep for the American manufacturer, which had heavily promoted the technology and design of its tournament collection upon launch.

When the collection was unveiled in late March, the reception from supporters and commentators was broadly positive.

The United States men's team received what many considered their most striking shirts in years, whilst France, England, Canada and Uruguay also garnered favourable reviews.

However, once players actually donned the kits during the recent international window, attention quickly shifted to a single problematic detail: a conspicuous bunching effect running along the shoulder seam.

The severity of the issue varied between different national team designs.

On certain shirts, such as the striped American home jersey, the defect was hardly perceptible. On others, the problem proved far more pronounced and difficult to ignore.

The flaw proved particularly striking on the elegant, understated shirt worn by French superstar Kylian Mbappe, where the effect appeared almost comical.

Uruguay's players displayed perhaps the most severe examples during their friendly match against England, with some observers comparing their appearance to Shredder, the villain from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Supporters who had spent between £75 and £150 on replica shirts reported encountering identical problems with their purchases. Some claimed success using steamers or washing the garments before wearing them.

Others proved less forgiving.

"The way the shoulders are sewn together just makes them bunch like this no matter what," one Canadian supporter wrote on Reddit. "This is a stupid, STUPID design."

Nike is now engaged in discussions with its partner federations and vendors as it considers potential remedies.

Whether the kits will undergo any redesign remains uncertain, as does what compensation might be offered to dissatisfied customers.

Any solution would require an enormous logistical effort given the sheer volume of jerseys already purchased and the compressed timeframe before the tournament begins.

"We always hold ourselves and our products to the highest standards and this fell short," the company stated.

"We're working quickly to make this right for players and fans, because every kit should reflect the care, precision and pride that the game deserves."

England shirts, that will be worn at this summer's World Cup, are priced from from £89.99 for adult Stadium (replica) versions, while official "Match" (authentic) shirts cost £134.99. Kids' shirts are priced at approximately £64.99 to £69.99.

Fans kicked up a fuss over the price but they're still selling better than ever as football's biggest tournament looms.