With the World Cup back on North American soil, companies have spent years painstakingly planning product and merchandise offerings to capitalize on the the tournament’s global interest. Some of those items are now standard fare — soccer balls, posters, human apparel — but others are more unique. And some of those unique items are already sold out before the tournament even kicks off.
Here’s a sampling of what you’ve missed if you’re only just starting your World Cup shopping now.
The Miller Time MVP Match Ball is about 1.5 times bigger than a regulation ball. (Photo courtesy of Miller Lite)
Although not an officially licensed World Cup product, Miller Lite announced the creation of an oversized plastic soccer ball made to hold 12 beer cans at once. It looks like a World War I-era explosive device and it quickly spread across social media as fans desperately inquired about where and how to buy one. The answer was through timed drops on the Miller Lite website, priced surprisingly low at just $20 each. Each release of an unspecified number of Matchballs to date has sold out in a matter of seconds, prompting frustration and accusations of resellers using bots to scoop them up before anyone else can. Some have found their way to eBay, where they’ve sold for $400-$500 each.
An adorable Mexico fan. (Photo courtesy of Adidas)
World Cup shirts made for humans? That’s old news. Adidas has now expanded its base of shirt-buying consumers to household pets — but only if they’re fans of Argentina, Colombia, Mexico or the U.S. (sorry, German Shepherds). Priced at $35 each, the designs match those that will be worn by players at the World Cup.
The Colombia and Mexico shirts have sold out. The Mexico pet shirt has since sold on the secondary market for between $80-$190.
FIFA’s New York/New Jersey host shirts
FIFA’s “We are New York New Jersey” apparel is now sold out. (Photo: FIFA.com)
FIFA’s “We are” campaign for the 2026 World Cup host cities works fine for just about every location except the venue hosting the final. No one in the history of the the region has ever willingly uttered the phrase, “We are New York/New Jersey” (although MLS’s New York Red Bulls were previously named the New York/New Jersey MetroStars and the NWSL’s Gotham FC was even more awkwardly dubbed NJ/NY Gotham FC for a few years). According to recent reporting by The Athletic’s Adam Crafton, it’s a phrase that has caused tension as each side feels entitled to first billing, yet FIFA produced a range of merchandise centered around it. And much of it has already sold out.
Does this mean people will actually be walking around the Bronx or Hoboken in “We are New York New Jersey” hoodies? I won’t believe it until I see it.
Tim Payne jerseys
The hottest jersey of the 2026 World Cup…Tim Payne’s? (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
The breakout star of the pre-World Cup period has been New Zealand defender Tim Payne, thanks to an Argentine influencer who identified him as the least followed player in the tournament and a social media campaign to change that. Now Payne has more than five million Instagram followers and the scramble has begun to produce merchandise to capitalize.
Naturally, Payne’s New Zealand jersey is one of the first things his new fans thought about acquiring, prompting U.S.-based retailers Soccer.com and World Soccer Shop to start offering them, but they’re on backorder until early July as the inventory is still in transit. New Zealand shirts with no player name or the name of another player on the team are available to be shipped immediately.
The Messi-branded gold 8 oz. mate mug. (Photo courtesy of Stanley)
Of course there is no shortage of Lionel Messi-branded products released for the tournament (probably the second most popular player behind Payne). Messi has a partnership with drinkware maker Stanley that has produced a limited-edition collection of gold cups to mark Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory. Among them is an 8 oz. golden mate mug priced at $30. Yerba mate is the drink that has been fueling Messi and the Argentina squad for years now, and fans clearly wanted to get their hands on the gold Messi mate mug because it’s sold out while larger gold Messi drinkware remains available — including a $70 jug that holds 64 oz. of liquid. The gold mate mug is now selling for more than $50 on the secondary market.
Somehow not sold out yet: 10-foot inflatable Lionel Messi
The real Lionel Messi with his 10-foot-tall inflatable twin. (Photo courtesy of Lowe’s)
When Lowe’s announced a 10-foot inflatable Messi yard decoration priced at $99, I thought it was weird enough to sell out instantly. Well, it’s still available despite Lowe’s website saying hundreds have sold, which tells us they properly anticipated the high demand for their absurd product.
A senior citizens home modification company shared a photo on social media of one stuffed into the conference room in their office. The image truly conveys just how much everyone needs one of these.
Inflatable Messi feeling a little cramped at his new workplace. (Photo courtesy of Senior Proof)
Probably will never sell out: Italy 2026 World Cup magnet
A very cursed magnet. (Photo courtesy of Dick’s Sporting Goods)
Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in spectacular fashion, leaving companies producing official merchandise for the tournament in an awkward position. The Italy 2026 World Cup magnet isn’t something any fan of the Azzurri would want to own, let alone at its $12.99 price point. This is definitely one 2026 World Cup item that will go unsold.
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