I talked to a print shop owner last week. Let’s call him Mike. Mike has been in the business for fifteen years. He’s done four World Cups worth of custom gear. He knows what’s coming.

And he’s nervous.

Not about the tournament. About the supply chain. About the blank shirts that aren’t arriving. About the customers who will walk in two days before the first match wanting fifty custom jerseys.

Here’s what Mike wants you to know.

The Printer’s Reality Right Now

Mike’s suppliers are calling him with bad news almost daily. The polyester shirt you want? Backordered until July. That specific shade of green for the Mexico gear? Gone. The DTF film he usually uses? Shipping from overseas, stuck in transit for six weeks.

He’s not making this up. He’s not trying to upsell you. He’s just telling you what’s actually happening.

The war in the Persian Gulf has messed up shipping. Oil prices have made raw materials cost more. Every printer you know is dealing with the same thing.

What Mike Wishes Customers Knew

“Order earlier than you think.”

If you need World Cup gear, Mike says you should have ordered it yesterday. His schedule is already filling up for May and June. The customers who wait until the last minute? They’re the ones who end up with whatever’s left in stock. Or nothing at all.

“Be flexible.”

That specific brand of shirt you love? Might not be available. That exact shade of red? Maybe not this year. Mike can still get you great gear, but you might need to let go of the exact details. A slightly different shirt is better than no shirt.

“Bigger orders come first.”

Mike isn’t trying to be difficult. But if he’s got one roll of film left and two customers need it—one ordering 500 shirts, one ordering 10—the 500 gets priority. It’s just math. Combine your order with friends. Order for the whole tournament at once. Help yourself get to the front of the line.

“Tell me what you need now.”

The customers who call Mike in March and say, “I’m going to need 200 shirts for the World Cup, can you hold some blanks for me?” Those customers are going to be happy in June. The ones who show up unannounced in June? They’re going to be disappointed.

What You Can Do Today

Pick up the phone. Call your printer. Ask them what they have. Ask them what they can get. Ask them when you need to order to guarantee your gear arrives on time.

Then order it.

Not next week. Not next month. Now.

The Bottom Line

Mike wants to help you celebrate the World Cup. That’s why he got into this business. But he can only work with what he’s got. And right now, what he’s got is limited.

The tournament is coming. The fans are ready. The gear should be, too.

Don’t be the customer who waits too long. Call your printer today. Your future self—waving that flag in a crowded room—will thank you.