MUNICH, June 23 -- The 2026 World Cup has exposed an unlikely weakness - not in a team's defence or attack, but in the shirts on their backs.

Four players have already had their Puma jerseys ripped during matches, with three forced to leave the field for replacements.

In a tournament dominated by debates over late goals, red cards and evolving tactics, the German sportswear giant has found itself at the centre of an entirely different conversation: whether football's pursuit of ever-lighter performance gear has come at the expense of durability.

Physical grappling is hardly unusual at a World Cup, particularly during corners, set pieces and battles for possession.

Shirt-pulling has long been part of football's grey area, often resulti...