Game-Worn Glory: MatchWornShirt Brings U.S. Soccer Fans Closer to the Action
MatchWornShirt, the global leader in match-worn soccer memorabilia, is officially bringing its platform to the United States—starting with jerseys worn by the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams.
Through a new partnership with U.S. Soccer, the USMNT and USWNT Players Associations, MatchWornShirt is now the official match-worn auction platform for U.S. Soccer. Fans can bid in real time for signed, match-worn jerseys from live U.S. national team matches, giving American supporters the kind of direct access usually reserved for the locker room.
This launch marks a major expansion of MatchWornShirt’s footprint, blending European football tradition with the fast-growing American collectibles scene. And with a tech-backed authentication system and real-time auction model, the company is turning matchday into memorabilia in record time.
Watch the Match. Win the Shirt.
Here’s how it works: once the match kicks off, the auction goes live. Fans can place bids in real time as the game unfolds, vying for one-of-a-kind jerseys straight from the Starting XI. Each shirt features visible wear and tear from the pitch, is signed post-match, and comes embedded with Fabricks™—MatchWornShirt’s proprietary chip that verifies the item’s authenticity and origin.
No replicas. No reissues. Just raw, on-field energy captured in fabric and sealed in time.
The debut U.S. Soccer auction includes jerseys worn during the USWNT’s recent back-to-back matches against Brazil. On May 31, a new drop will feature game-worn, signed jerseys from the USWNT’s upcoming match against China. Later this summer, auctions will roll out from the U.S. Men’s National Team’s Gold Cup campaign, putting the game’s biggest moments within reach of collectors and superfans alike.
More Than Merch
MatchWornShirt’s origin story is rooted in family. Brothers Tijmen and Bob Zonderwijk launched the platform in 2017 after struggling to find a legitimate match-worn Ajax jersey for their dad. Today, the platform partners with over 300 clubs and federations across 35 countries—from Chelsea and PSG to national teams like Germany, Croatia, and now the U.S.
For the founders, it’s about more than memorabilia—it’s about memory.
“We created this to give fans the chance to hold a real piece of the game,” said CEO Tijmen Zonderwijk. “From Europe to the U.S., our goal is to make those emotional connections tangible—one shirt at a time.”
That sentiment is echoed by Becca Roux, Executive Director of the USWNT Players Association:
“There’s something incredibly special about fans being able to own a piece of the player, their grit, their pride, the moment itself.”
Why This Matters Now
The timing couldn’t be better. Soccer in the U.S. is in the middle of a golden era—with the FIFA Club World Cup landing stateside in 2025 and the Men’s World Cup coming in 2026. Collectibles are on the rise, national team pride is peaking, and brands like MatchWornShirt are tapping into the growing demand for authentic, experiential fandom.
For Mark Levinstein, Executive Director of the USMNT Players Association, it’s about legacy:
“Owning a match-worn jersey is holding a living fragment of U.S. Soccer history… They carry the energy, emotion, and pride of players who represent an entire nation on the world stage.”
With this new partnership, that legacy is finally within reach.
