Soccer fans in New York are getting a rare pre-World Cup treat: a unique display of match-worn jerseys once worn by some of the sport’s most celebrated stars.
The three-day exhibition, open through Sunday, brings together shirts linked to icons including Diego Maradona, Roberto Baggio, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe.
The pop-up was organized by MatchWornShirt, a Netherlands-based company known for auctioning game-worn jerseys. According to the company, the showcase is designed to tap into World Cup excitement in the U.S. while also inspiring a new generation of collectors.
This year’s FIFA World Cup runs through July 19 and is being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. The expanded tournament includes 48 teams and a total of 104 matches.
Bob Zonderwijk, who founded MatchWornShirt with his brother Tijmen, said the coming weeks could be a major moment for soccer’s growth in the United States. He described the World Cup as the biggest sporting event in the world and said that, although soccer has not always been a top focus for every American fan, the passion shown by supporters from Europe and Asia could help draw more people in. “I think that enthusiasm can be contagious,” he said.
The jerseys in the exhibit come from a range of sources, including players’ personal collections, museums and private collectors around the world. Among them is a Maradona shirt from Argentina’s 1990 World Cup match against the Soviet Union, which is owned by a collector in Italy.
The jerseys on display hailed from several places, including players’ closets, museums and collectors scattered around the world. For example, the Maradona jersey, from his 1990 World Cup match against the Soviet Union, is owned by an Italian collector.
“We put a lot of effort into [the exhibit],” Zonderwijk said. “There are famous names everyone knows, like Ronaldo and Mbappe. These aren’t just random jerseys. They represent defining moments in World Cup history.”
SALVADOR, BRAZIL – JUNE 13: Robin van Persie of the Netherlands scores the equalising goal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group B match between Spain and Netherlands at Arena Fonte Nova on June 13, 2014 in Salvador, Brazil. (Photo by Ryan Pierse – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
FIFA via Getty Images
Other notable jerseys include the one worn by Italy midfielder Marco Tardelli when he scored in the 1982 World Cup final against West Germany and Robin van Persie’s incredible leaping header against Spain at the 2014 World Cup.
On hand for the June 11 preview was former PSG and Juventus midfielder Blaise Matuidi, who won the World Cup in 2018 with France. Seeing Mbappe’s jersey from that final against Croatia brought back a flood of memories.
“I remember when the referee blew the final whistle at the end of the game,” he recalled. “It was a sensation I had never experienced in my life. Something special that we cannot even describe with words.”
Matuidi said his jersey from that match is at home.
“I remember it started raining and everything got very wet, but it was OK. It was a good rain,” he added. “We had time to slide on the pitch and enjoy that moment together.”
Matuidi said the exhibit was a chance for soccer fans to relive memories of World Cups past.
“Football is the best sport in the world,” he said. “I know we’re in America, but worldwide football is the best. It brings people together from all around the world to share time together and enjoy watching the best players in the world.”
For MatchWornShirt, the exhibit is also a chance to let Americans know that many jerseys from this current World Cup could be theirs. Zonderwijk said the American market for soccer jersey collecting has seen tremendous growth in recent years.
“We work with more than 20 of the participating nations, including several contenders for the title,” Zonderwijk said. “We also work with all three host nations — Mexico, Canada, and the United States — and as soon as matches begin, fans can bid on the jerseys the players are wearing in real time.”
In May 2025, MatchWornShirt signed an exclusive deal with U.S. Soccer to auction off game-worn men’s and women’s national team shirts. MatchWornShirt currently has agreements with over 300 club and national teams around the world, including back-to-back Champions League winners PSG.
While Matuidi said France has a shot at the title, Zonderwijk imagined a scenario that would make collectors salivate.
“If Ronaldo were to reach the final and potentially win his first World Cup, that would be a huge moment,” he said. “There are a lot of opportunities ahead.”
Clemente Lisi is the author of “The World Cup: A History of the Planet’s Biggest Sporting Event, 2026 Edition.”
