Inside the 2026 FIFA World Cup Jerseys: How Recycled Warp Knit Tapes Are Redefining Performance Sportswear

When the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11, hundreds of millions of viewers will watch some of the world’s best players compete in jerseys engineered for peak performance. What those viewers won’t see is the network of specialist manufacturers behind the fabric, the trims, and the finishing details that make those jerseys possible.
ECI Elastic is proud to be one of the tape suppliers for Adidas’ 2026 World Cup jersey program. Our warp knit tapes are applied to the hem and collar areas of jerseys worn by national teams including Spain, Germany, Japan, and Ukraine. This continues a partnership that began during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where ECI’s knit elastic tapes were used across nine Adidas-sponsored national teams, contributing to what were then recognized as the lightest soccer jerseys in the world.
But the 2026 program represents something new. For the first time, the tapes ECI has supplied for World Cup jerseys are made from 100% recycled polyester, a material decision that reflects where elite sportswear manufacturing is heading.
 

What’s Inside the 2026 Jerseys: Product 72231-37R

The specific product ECI supplied for the 2026 World Cup jersey program is the 72231-37R, a warp knit tape made from 100% recycled polyester. It is applied to the hem and collar areas of the jerseys, two zones where the tape’s performance directly affects the wearer’s comfort and the garment’s longevity.
During the development stage, two priorities guided the design: sustainability and a soft hand-feel. The recycled polyester had to deliver the same skin comfort and performance characteristics as virgin material, while meeting the stringent environmental specifications required by a global sportswear program of this scale.
ECI supplied tapes for jerseys worn by Spain, Germany, Japan, Ukraine, Hungary, and Italy.

From 2014 to 2026: How World Cup Jersey Trims Have Evolved

When ECI worked with the Adidas development team for the 2014 World Cup, the primary engineering challenge was weight. The brief was to create the lightest jersey ever produced without sacrificing the strength needed for competitive play. ECI’s knit elastic tapes were selected for sleeve cuffs, sleeve inserts, arm inserts, and side tapes across nine national team jerseys, including Germany’s championship-winning kit.
Twelve years later, the engineering priorities have expanded. Lightweight construction is still essential, but it is now expected rather than exceptional. The new frontier is sustainability, using recycled and mono-material inputs without compromising the performance standards that elite athletes demand. The shift from conventional polyester to 100% recycled polyester in the 72231-37R tape reflects this evolution: same performance, fundamentally better environmental profile. The development cycle itself illustrates the rigor involved: approximately six months from initial brief to product approval, followed by another year before garment styles reach buy-ready status for sample orders.
This trajectory mirrors what ECI is seeing across the broader sportswear industry. Brand sustainability commitments that once covered only primary fabrics now extend to every trim component, including narrow fabrics, elastic tapes, and finishing materials.
 

Why Warp Knit Tape for Performance Jerseys

Warp knit construction is the foundation of the 72231-37R and the reason it was selected for a World Cup-level application. Unlike woven tapes, which use interlaced warp and weft yarns, warp knit tapes are produced on warp knitting machines where yarns are looped together in a chain structure. This construction gives warp knit tapes a distinct set of properties:

• Inherent stretch and recovery — The looped structure provides natural elasticity without the need for elastane or spandex yarns. This means the tape moves with the athlete’s body and recovers its shape after stretching.
•  Lightweight construction — Warp knit structures can be engineered to be thinner and lighter than woven equivalents at comparable strength levels. In a performance jersey where every gram matters, this is significant.
• Soft hand-feel — The looped surface of a warp knit tape sits more smoothly against skin than a woven structure. For hem and collar applications where the tape contacts the wearer’s skin directly, this translates to improved comfort during prolonged wear and dynamic movement.
• Dimensional stability — Well-engineered warp knit tapes maintain their shape and width through repeated washing and wearing cycles without distortion, curling, or shrinkage.
• Mono-material compatibility — Because warp knit construction achieves stretch mechanically rather than chemically, the tape can be made from a single fiber type (in this case, 100% recycled polyester). This is critical for end-of-life recyclability.

For sportswear designers and product developers evaluating tape options for jerseys, training kits, or performance tops, warp knit construction offers the best balance of stretch, comfort, weight, and sustainability. ECI manufactures warp knit tapes across a wide range of widths and specifications — explore the full range here.

100% Recycled Polyester: Sustainability Without Compromise

One of the most significant aspects of the 72231-37R is its material composition: 100% GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certified recycled polyester. This is not a token sustainability gesture. Using recycled polyester in a World Cup-level application, where the performance bar is set by elite athletes competing under the most demanding conditions, demonstrates that recycled materials can meet the highest standards in the industry.
The recycled polyester used in the 72231-37R is sourced from post-consumer PET bottles and processed into yarn that matches virgin polyester in tensile strength, colorfastness, and dimensional stability. Because the tape is 100% polyester with no elastane or other fiber blends, it is a mono-material product that can be recycled through standard polyester recycling streams at end of life, no fiber separation required.
This aligns with ECI’s broader sustainability investments. The company has developed closed-loop recycled fancy yarn produced from its own post-industrial waste, and maintains GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certification with verified chain-of-custody documentation across its supply chain.
 

Hem and Collar: Why These Application Areas Matter

The 72231-37R is applied specifically to the hem and collar areas of the World Cup jerseys. These are not arbitrary placements, they are the two zones where tape performance has the most direct impact on the wearer’s experience.
Collar area: The collar tape sits against the back of the neck — one of the most sensitive areas of skin on the body. The tape must be soft enough to avoid irritation during 90+ minutes of intense physical activity, while stable enough to maintain the collar’s shape through repeated on/off cycles and laundering. ECI’s expertise in back neck tape manufacturing — one of the company’s core product categories — directly informed the development of this component.
Hem area: The hem tape provides structure to the bottom edge of the jersey without adding rigidity. It prevents the hem from rolling, curling, or losing shape during dynamic movement — sliding tackles, aerial challenges, sprinting, and stretching. The warp knit construction allows the hem to flex with the athlete’s torso while recovering its original shape. For custom striped tape applications, the same dimensional stability ensures that stripe patterns remain crisp and aligned across the garment’s lifespan.
 

From World Cup to Your Collection: ECI’s Sportswear Trim Capabilities

The R&D team, in-house testing laboratory, and production capabilities that developed tapes for the World Cup are the same resources available to any brand working with ECI. Whether you are developing a national team jersey, a club kit, a training range, or a performance athleisure line, ECI brings the same development approach:

• Vertical integration — From yarn preparation through weaving, knitting, dyeing, finishing, and quality inspection, all under one roof
• Sustainable material options — 100% recycled polyester, GRS-certified recycled yarns, and elastane-free elastic alternatives
• In-house testing — Stretch recovery, colorfastness, tensile strength, dimensional stability, and wash durability testing before shipment
• Multi-region production — Manufacturing facilities in Taiwan, Vietnam, and China with finishing capabilities in Korea and France
• Certified quality — OEKO-TEX Standard 100, ISO 9001:2015, and GRS certified across facilities

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of tape is used in the 2026 World Cup jerseys?
The tape supplied by ECI Elastic for the 2026 Adidas World Cup jerseys is the 72231-37R, a warp knit tape made from 100% recycled polyester. It is applied to the hem and collar areas of jerseys for teams including Spain, Germany, Japan, and Ukraine. The development focus was on combining sustainability with a soft hand-feel suitable for elite athletic performance.

Can recycled polyester tapes match the performance of virgin materials?
Yes. The recycled polyester used in the 72231-37R meets the same tensile strength, colorfastness, dimensional stability, and wash durability standards as virgin polyester. Its selection for a World Cup-level application — where performance requirements are among the most demanding in sportswear — validates that recycled materials are no longer a compromise.

What is warp knit tape and why is it used in performance sportswear?
Warp knit tape is a narrow fabric produced on warp knitting machines, where yarns are looped in a chain structure rather than interlaced as in woven tape. This construction provides inherent stretch and recovery without elastane, a lightweight structure, a smooth and soft skin-facing surface, and excellent dimensional stability through wash cycles. These properties make warp knit tape ideal for sportswear applications where comfort, performance, and durability are all critical.

How can I source similar tapes for my sportswear brand?
ECI Elastic manufactures warp knit tapes, back neck tapes, striped tapes, and other narrow fabrics for sportswear applications at all levels — from elite team programs to commercial athleisure. The same R&D and production capabilities used for World Cup programs are available for any project. Contact our team to discuss your specifications, request samples, or schedule a development consultation.

Ready to Develop Performance Trims for Your Sportswear Line?

From World Cup jerseys to your next collection, ECI Elastic brings the same commitment to performance, sustainability, and precision engineering. Whether you need warp knit tapes, custom striped tapes, back neck tape, or specialty finishing, our team is ready to collaborate.
Explore our product range  |  View our 2014 World Cup case study  |  Contact us