England fans reacted with anger and dismay today after the launch of the most expensive Three Lions replica kit in history and one has threatened to buy a 'fake one'.

An adult ‘match’ shirt for this summer’s World Cup is being sold for £134.99. It represented a price hike of around eight percent, more than double the rate of inflation, on the equivalent kit released ahead of Euro 2024 which cost £124.99.

Families were hit hardest, with full junior 'match' strips priced at £114.99. What Nike markets as the adult 'stadium' shirt costs £89.99, while the junior version costs £64.99.

• FIFA respond over accusation of breaking European Union laws as World Cup complaint filed

• Cristiano Ronaldo shares update after being left out of Portugal squad before World Cup

'Match' shirts are sought after because England's players will wear them for the World Cup in the US this summer. The 'stadium' alternative is designed for supporters to wear in the stands.

Supporters who opt to have a name and number printed on the back must fork out another £60.

They add up to the most expensive England kits ever. George Smith, 42, an Exeter City fan and father of four who now lives in San Diego, California, has tickets for some of England's World Cup games this summer.

He is due to attend at least one game with his wife, Monica, and he said: "The cost to kit out kids is exorbitant, for a larger family like mine we would be looking at the best part of £600 to get us the shirts and the kids the full kit.

"At these prices I totally understand people ordering from knock off websites for £20 a pop. The FA should have a deal with the manufacturer that states an affordable maximum price.

"The volume of sales for these should be higher than for almost any other football shirt." 'Superfan' Garford Beck, 63, of London, has hardly missed an England game since 1980 and this summer will be his 8th World Cup.

He also manages the England fans team. He said: "Working-class fans remain the backbone of the game. Yet they get taken to the cleaners and are asked to pay exorbitant amounts for replica kits, souvenirs and of course match tickets.

"They have given so much to the game, yet the door is being closed on them because of the costs. I feel incredibly sad when I think about this."

On social media platform X, Frazer wrote: "The price is an absolute joke. Ripping people off. £90!?!?." Curtis Obeng added: "Absolutely disgusting pricing. Completely out of touch with reality."

Another fan added: "Will buy a fake one for £20." England's 'match' shirt sold for £114.95 ahead of the last World Cup in 2022, while a 'stadium' strip cost £74.95. Made by Nike as part of a £400m deal with the FA, the new shirt no longer features the multi-coloured St. George's Cross of the 2024 kit.

It now has the words 'happy and glorious' inside the collar, paying tribute to England's national anthem, "God Save the King."'
The FA is a not for profit organisation and declined to comment on the cost of the shirts. Nike described the kit as a 'modern all-white design that honours England's heritage,' while the away strip returns to red after being purple since 2024.

A Nike spokesperson said: "We know that any price increase matters to fans, and we never take that lightly. We regularly review our product costs to ensure we deliver the best possible performance and industry-leading innovation, while balancing rising material, manufacturing, and logistics costs."

England captain Harry Kane, Jordan Pickford, Jude Bellingham, Elliot Anderson and Marcus Rashford starred in the promotion video, having all made Thomas Tuchel's latest 35-man squad for the March international break.

The Tree Lions play Uruguay on Friday before facing Japan next Tuesday; both games are friendlies. England will wear the kit for the first time against Uruguay.

Earlier this season, the Mirror reported that millions of football fans were being asked to pay £85 for their Premier League kits.

In total, 11 clubs hiked the price of adult shirts this season, according to official club websites. Everton, Brighton, Brentford and Crystal Palace raised prices by £5, while Wolves added a modest £2 to their shirts.

Wolves and Premier League new boys Burnley and Sunderland charged the lowest amounts for shirts, all priced at £60.

Everton, Tottenham and Chelsea had the most expensive kids’ shirts. Everton increased the junior price by £10, taking the cost to £65. Tottenham froze prices at £65, while Chelsea froze this season’s child shirt price at £64.99.

Arsenal, Aston Villa, Man Utd, Leeds United and Crystal Palace all increased prices by £5. At the other end of the spectrum, Brentford and Wolves had the cheapest shirts, priced at £45.