Amidst all the criticism, they also managed to aggravate USMNT fans, with whom they share national and geographical links.
The fans’ anger isn’t unjustified of course, and it all stemmed from Nike’s uninspired attempts at creating the kits that the team will sport in Qatar.
Alex Morgan dons the new Nike away kit for the USA
The designs are incredibly bland, and will likely fade from memory relatively quickly.
The online outrage since then has been constant, as the mere mention of Nike’s World Cup kits can spark a rant from an American fan.
With no means of rectifying the situation, Nike would certainly be hoping for matters to boil over, although those hopes seem far-fetched.
A further dent came in the form of the recently unveiled Fall kits for the US Women’s Team, which were already average as they’re exactly like their male counterparts, but Nike have seemingly made it even worse.
Continuing their hot streak of butchering designs, Nike has ruined an already bland look through some truly absurd placement, and it all has to do with the USWNT’s 2019 World Cup triumph.
You can tell US Soccer forgot about the women with this “fresh thread” because that FIFA badge was definitely an afterthought pic.twitter.com/GlrpLyEfF1
The Stars and Stripes lifted the prestigious title in France, and earned the title ‘ World Champions’.
And as such, they get to parade around with a Golden badge on their kits which confirms their status.
Instead of being a welcome edition, the fall kits make it seem like an absolute eyesore.
The new kits were NOT made with reigning Women’s World Cup champs in mind.
Someone somewhere forgot the #USWNT wear a gold FIFA Champions badge. It looks so awkward and poorly designed next to the now centered USWNT crest. pic.twitter.com/6vrOWmhggQ
Nike made the shift to vertically placed logos this year, and it clearly shows that the Women’s kits received no consideration while making the decision.
FIFA regulations detail specific placement spots, something the brand was undoubtedly aware of.
Placed right alongside the centred national crest, the badge is extremely off-putting, and fans online felt the same way.
If I were the #USMNT and saw how bad the new #USWNT jerseys look with the FIFA badge… I simply would not want to win the World Cup.
There are acres of empty space throughout the base, yet the two badges laced together result in a cramped mess of a design.
Fans will hopefully find some solace in the fact that the kit will be dumped after 4 months, and most importantly, it won’t see the Australian sun when the World Cup returns in 2023.
