All but two of the World Cup kits released so far are manufactured by the three biggest sportswear brands – Adidas, Nike and Puma.
The prices Adidas and Puma are charging for their World Cup range are the same as the cost for their major club sides this season, including Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United for Adidas and Manchester City for Puma.
But Nike have marked up their prices, charging five pounds more for shirts for the likes of England, France and the Netherlands than club teams like Chelsea and Spurs.
That means England fans are paying more for the Nike kits than fans of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are paying for their Adidas-branded kits.
In a statement, Nike told the BBC: “We know that any price increase matters to fans, and we never take that lightly.
“We regularly review our product costs to make sure we’re delivering the best possible performance and industry-leading innovation, while balancing rising material, manufacturing and logistics costs.”
Adidas added: “The pricing of these jerseys is reflective of the technology, development, testing and high-quality materials that bring them to life.
“We understand that each kit is a meaningful purchase for a fan, and we provide choice with authentic and replica jerseys at different price points.
“Counterfeit items cannot replicate these standards, and we remain committed to delivering products that perform at the very top of the sport.”
Puma, who manufacture kits for the likes of Portugal, Morocco and New Zealand, are charging higher prices than Adidas, but lower than Nike.
Kits manufactured by Hummel (for Denmark) and Marathon (for Ecuador) are not currently available for purchase in all sizes and with full customisation in the UK.
According to analysis by sports merchandise expert Dr Peter Rohlmann, it costs about £8.50 for an official adult replica shirt to be manufactured and shipped, with an additional £9.50 cost for marketing, licensing and distribution.
A new England shirt priced at £104.99 would also incur £17.50 worth of VAT.
Removing all costs leaves a profit of about £64.49, which is split between the manufacturer and retailer according to the terms of their agreement.
Nike and Puma prices have risen above the rate of inflation (14.6%) since the last World Cup, while Adidas’ rise has been lower.
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