October 9, 2026 · 6 min read
"Can we put the Barcelona crest on our jerseys?" "Our sponsor wants their logo on the chest — is that okay?" These are the questions we get every week. Here's the straight answer on what you can and can't print on custom soccer jerseys.
If you designed it yourself or hired someone to create it for your team, you own it. Print it anywhere — chest, sleeve, collar, wherever.
If a local business paid to sponsor your team, they almost always include logo placement in the sponsorship agreement. Get written permission (even an email) and you're good.
Names and jersey numbers are not copyrighted. You can use any font, any number, any player name you want on your own jerseys.
Colors and stripe patterns aren't protected. Navy and red stripes, blue gradients — these are design choices, not intellectual property.
These are registered trademarks. Printing them on jerseys you sell or distribute — even for a youth team — is trademark infringement. The clubs actively monitor this and issue takedown notices.
Unless you're an authorized dealer, you cannot reproduce their swoosh, three stripes, or cat logo on jerseys. This applies to the chest, sleeve, and tongue labels.
Selling jerseys with "MESSI #10" or "RONALDO #7" printed on them is a gray area. For your own team's internal use, it's usually fine. Selling them commercially is not.
These are licensed marks. You need written permission from the league to reproduce them on jerseys.
"Can we make jerseys that look like Barcelona's kit but with our own logo?"
Yes — as long as you don't include the Barcelona crest or name. Using similar colors (blaugrana stripes) is a design choice, not infringement. Many youth teams take inspiration from pro clubs without copying the branding.
"We want our sponsor's logo — what file format do we need?"
Always ask for a vector file: AI, EPS, or SVG. PNG and JPEG are low-resolution and will look blurry when enlarged on a jersey. If the sponsor only has a PNG, ask them for the original design file from whoever made their logo.
"Can we print a cartoon character or movie logo?"
No — unless you have written permission from the copyright holder. Disney, Marvel, and other brands enforce their trademarks aggressively. This includes popular characters like Pikachu or Spider-Man.
Upload your team logo and get a free mockup within 24 hours. MOQ 5 sets, factory direct pricing.
Get Free MockupThe rule is simple: if you created it, own it, or have written permission to use it — print it. If it belongs to a professional club, a major brand, or a famous franchise — don't. Your own team's identity is what matters anyway, not copying someone else's.