Why are so many World Cup shirts tearing? | OneFootball

Ripped shirts have become a theme at this World Cup, as ultra-light, performance-first kits collide with full-blooded contact.

L'Équipe reports that Morocco defender Chadi Riad needed two replacements inside 20 minutes during a bruising round-of-32 duel with Brian Brobbey. He was repeatedly tugged chasing long passes and his top split.

Neil El-Aynaoui suffered similar damage against Scotland in the group stage. Pavel Sulc for Czechia, Mustafa Zico for Egypt, Ben Old for New Zealand and Gustavo Gomez of Paraguay have also seen shirts tear. The common link is kit supplier Puma.

The German company’s latest-generation shirts are described as around 72 grams, far lighter than some rivals near 150, and intended to maximise movement and comfort. The weight saving improves ventilation, limits water retention and reduces friction. The trade-off is clear, when grabbed, they rip more readily.

Weight is trimmed with slimmer, thermo-bonded seams, boosting performance but cutting durability. For team staff it is manageable, with three shirts typically available per player per match.

Riad still looked irritated on Monday as he changed during a high-pressure meeting with the Netherlands, yet none of the five named players has spoken publicly. There is precedent, Switzerland endured multiple tears at Euro 2016 while wearing Puma and Xherdan Shaqiri joked he hoped they did not make condoms. Retail replicas use different materials and construction for everyday durability and are presented as more robust.

Source: L'Équipe