We don’t always have the answers, but we have some people on speed dial who do — which is why we present to you our series FYI where we have experts explain if lip balm is actually bad, how often should you wash your hair and more.
With the FIFA World Cup 2026 finally underway, soccer jerseys have become the fashion staple of the season. Although wearing your jersey is a no-brainer, properly cleaning it without stressing the fibers or fading the graphics can be a different story entirely. To get the best advice on how to clean your jerseys, I spoke to Kim Romine, a fabric care scientist at Procter & Gamble, for tips on how to keep your kit fresh throughout the World Cup.
Related
Want more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.
How to clean your soccer jersey
Most soccer jerseys are made from performance polyester or polyester blends, which are made for sport and tend to wick moisture, allow air flow and breathability, dry quickly and maintain colors after multiple washes, says Romine. The best way to clean your jersey is through gentle but targeted cleaning that removes dirt and odors while preserving the clothing fibers, she says. Here’s what she recommends when cleaning your jersey:
- Check the care label and follow the instructions closely.
- Turn the jersey inside out when washing to preserve colors and graphics.
- Wash the jersey on a gentle cycle in cold water.
- Use high-quality detergent to remove bacteria, oil, sweat and dirt.
- Avoid washing your jersey with heavy items that can cause friction damage (towels, jeans etc.).
- Air dry whenever possible, and hang up or lay flat to maintain the shape.
Best detergents and stain removers to consider
When cleaning your jersey, you should use a high-quality detergent, along with stain and odor removers that won’t damage your jersey’s fibres, says Romine. Laundry detergents should also have enzymes and surfactants for the most effective clean possible, she says.
- Enzymes help to break down body oils, sweat and bacteria, which cause odor when left untreated.
- After enzymes break down the bacteria, surfactants help lift them from the fabric, which ensures they don’t leave a lingering odor.
This is my go-to liquid laundry detergent and one of Amazon’s top-selling options. It has enzymes to help break down dirt and residue, making it great for washing out odors from gameplay or regular wear. The cap also doubles as a measuring cup to help you size out the right amount for your loads.
NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin has been using these plant-based pods for years, and loves that they dissolve fully (unlike other natural detergent pods she’s tried). The packaging is compostable and the pods themselves are unscented.
This stain remover is great for hard-to-wash spots from grass, grease and more, and perfect for treating a soccer jersey after a day of play. For best results, the brand recommends spraying the stain and leaving it on for five to 10 minutes before washing.
If you’re looking for an on-the-go option to treat urgent stains on your jersey, this pen from Tide is the answer. It has hydrogen peroxide to help camouflage stains until you can do a full wash before the stain fully sets into the fabric. Malin says she “never leaves home without this” since it’s a great tool for getting rid of coffee stains, ink drops and more.
How often should you wash a soccer jersey?
Ideally, you should wash your jersey after every active session to help prevent the build up of sweat, says Romine. For casual wear, Romine suggests washing your jersey every few wears, especially if there are no visible stains or heavy sweating.
How do you remove underarm odor from soccer jerseys?
The synthetic performance fabrics that make up most jerseys are designed to wick away sweat, however, they also trap body oils and bacteria deep within the fibers, especially in high-sweat zones like the underarms, says Romine. “Over time, if not washed properly, this buildup can lead to persistent odor,” she says. For best results, Romine suggests washing your jersey as soon as possible after wearing it to prevent odor from settling in, and follow fabric care and detergent dose instructions when washing to guarantee a freshness that lasts, rather than just masking the must.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can overwash a jersey. Overwashing or washing your jersey too harshly can make the fabric fibers break down faster, fade colors and crack logos or transfers, says Romine. Since common causes of damage include using high heat or aggressive wash cycles, the biggest factor isn’t how often you wash the jersey, but rather how you wash it.
Common mistakes when washing a jersey include using hot water to wash or high heat to dry, not following the instructions on the care label and washing with heavier clothes that may cause friction. Other mistakes include not washing your jersey often enough (which leaves room for odor-causing bacteria to buildup), along with over-scrubbing the print, emblems and logos, says Romine.
You can prevent your jersey from fading or cracking by reducing exposure to high heat and friction. Romine suggests washing your jersey inside out and using cold water on a gentle cycle in the machine to preserve the vibrancy of the color. You should also avoid using dryers (and if you do use them, they should be on low heat only) and ironing directly on the logos, she says.
The best places to buy FIFA World Cup 2026 jerseys include official retailers like the FIFA store, Nike, Adidas, Puma or another sponsoring brand, along with verifiable, third-party sellers.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 takes place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The tournament lasts for 34 days and includes 104 total matches played, according to FIFA.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be jointly held across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States. The cities include:
- Canada: Toronto and Vancouver
- Mexico: Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey
- United States: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco/Bay Area and Seattle.
You can find a full list of locations and match venues here.
There will be 48 national teams competing in the FIFA World Cup 2026, including the three host nations. Each team is a part of one of FIFA’s six continental federations. The full list of competitors are as follows:
- Hosts: Canada, Mexico, USA
- Asian Football Confederation (AFC): Australia, Iraq, IR Iran, Japan, Jordan, Korea Republic, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan
- Confederation of African Football (CAF): Algeria, Cabo Verde, Congo DR, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
- Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF): Curaçao, Haiti, Panama
- Confederacion Sudamericana de Futbol (CONMEBOL): Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
- Oceania Football Confederation (OFC): New Zealand
- Union of European Football Associations (UEFA): Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czechia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye
You can purchase tickets to FIFA World Cup 2026 matches on the official FIFA ticketing website. You can also explore resale markets for secondhand tickets, however, there’s no guarantee of legitimacy, making it safer to stick to official ticketing routes.
Meet our fabric care expert
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Kim Romine is a Fabric Care Scientist at Procter & Gamble.
Why trust NBC Select?
I’m an associate SEO reporter with over two years of experience covering travel accessories and apparel, and an avid soccer fan who’s been wearing soccer jerseys for years (and, more recently, writing about the best jerseys from this year’s tournament). To write this story, I spoke to a fabric care expert about the best ways to clean your jersey — just in time for the World Cup.
Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.
