Nike releases USMNT 'Supporter's Top' as jersey alternative for fans searching for sold-out World Cup kits

1 hour ago 6

The strong performance by the United States at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has generated unprecedented excitement for not just soccer in the country, but specifically for the USMNT.

As Mauricio Pochettino leads the U.S. into the Round of 16, set to face Belgium on Monday with a chance to be just the second U.S. team to reach the quarterfinals of a World Cup should they win.

Their electric results, with wins over Paraguay, Australia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina combining for the most victories ever by a U.S. team at a World Cup, has jump-started the fanbase in the United States and brought casuals along for the ride as well.

Yet for fans who have tried to support the squad with team apparel, they have been met with difficulties securing the official USMNT jersey.

What is a 'Supporter's Top'?

Nike has released a "Supporter Top" to fill the demand for the USMNT World Cup kit, which has sold out.

The Supporter Top is, presumably, a lower-quality version of the U.S. jersey first released before the tournament. Nike describes it as:

"Inspired by their home kit, this USMNT top is made with sweat-wicking technology to help keep you dry and comfortable on and off the field."

When did USMNT striped jersey sell out?

According to The Athletic, most retailers had completely sold out of the Nike USMNT kit by the end of June.

“(Nike has) been told by countless retailers you need to make more jerseys way before these events happen and they just don’t do it. They just ignore it," a source was quoted as in the Athletic article.

MORE: How good is this USMNT, really?

Why didn't Nike make enough World Cup kits?

It's hard to say why Nike didn't meet the exorbitant demand for World Cup kits, but this is relatively common for their yearly USMNT jersey offerings, which usually sell out quite quickly.

It does seem like there is an element of exclusivity that Nike enjoys from the jersey selling out and having demand.