The England Store official site released an American football-style NFL jersey ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup to a mix of feedback from fans on social media.
15:08 ET, 25 Feb 2026
England fans
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England fans will travel in spades to the 2026 World Cup(Image: Getty Images)
The English men's national team has three matches in the United States next summer for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The country's Football Association is gearing up by launching a line of American-inspired attire for match-going fans to wear.
England is placed in Group L and will face Croatia (in Dallas), Ghana (in Boston) and Panama (in New York-New Jersey), and the team is heavily favored to advance to the second round.
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The official England Store site online — powered by Fanatics — released an NFL-style American football jersey with the No. 26 plastered across the middle of it for £60 ahead of the World Cup.
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In addition, fans can buy a baseball jersey (also for £60) and a basketball jersey (for £35), along with a host of other America-themed sportswear.
The popular X account 'Ruined Football Shirts' posted a promotional photo of the shirts, with West Ham United and England footballer Jarrod Bowen wearing the football jersey. Fans were split in the comment section.
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"Hideous and grotesque," one wrote. A different fan posted a GIF of longtime English manager Sean Dyche shaking his head, coupled with the caption, "Game's gone."
Others took aim at the company that made it. "Fanatics slop, one said. "Actually quite a neat idea, there’ll just be a negative sentiment towards them cause they’re American sport-based," another wrote.
Jarrod Bown
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Jarrod Bown and England are considered amongst the favorites to win the 2026 World Cup(Image: Getty Images)
"This would be popular with Americans bc they'd mostly have no clue wtf England is and just buy it as it looks cool," another said, taking a backhanded swipe at the World Cup host nation.
The English national team is considered one of the favorites for next summer's tournament, alongside a group of upper-echelon contenders like Spain, Argentina, and France.
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England hasn't won the FIFA World Cup since 1966, a tournament played on home soil. The Three Lions fell in the 2022 quarterfinals to France after captain Harry Kane missed a late penalty.
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The national team has had success at recent tournaments (under former manager Gareth Southgate), reaching the 2018 World Cup semifinals (losing to Croatia), the 2020 EURO finals (losing to Italy on penalties), the 2022 World Cup quarterfinals (losing to France), and the 2024 EURO finals (losing to Spain).
The English FA replaced Southgate with the more experienced Thomas Tuchel, a Champions League winner during his stint with Chelsea. Before getting the England job this cycle, he hadn't managed since 2022.