Shirt patches: what they are and where they go

Patches are the small badges on the sleeves and on the chest that show which competition a team is playing or which title it has won. They give a shirt the match day look. Here is what each one means and how to choose.

What a patch is

A patch is a badge applied to the shirt. The best known go on the sleeves, like the league badge. Champions patches can go on the sleeve or on the chest, depending on the title.

The two main families

Competition patches

They show the competition the team plays during the season: the league, like the Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Liga Portugal or the Brazilian Série A, or a tournament like the Champions League, the Libertadores or the World Cup.

Champions patches

They celebrate a title. Some show how many times a club has won a competition, like the Champions League titles badge. Others mark the current champion, like the world champions badge of a national team or of a club.

Where each one goes

• League patch: on the sleeve, and in some leagues on both sleeves.
• Champions League: the starball badge on one sleeve and the campaign badge on the other.
• Titles badge: on the sleeve, as part of the competition set.
• World champions badge: on the front of the shirt, in the center of the chest.

How to add patches at Garra Esportes

On the product page of models that have patches, you can choose the ones available for that shirt. The list is made for each team, so you only see patches that make sense for it, and each patch adds a small amount to the price.

Which one to choose

• Current season shirt: the patch of the league or competition the team plays this season.
• Shirt from a big night: the patch of that tournament, like a Champions League or Libertadores final.
• National team shirt: the FIFA World Cup 26 patch or the qualifiers patch.
• Retro shirt: the patch of the tournament of that year, like the World Cup 2006 or 2014 badges, or no patch at all to keep the design clean.

Brazilian and South American clubs

For Brazilian clubs there are the Brazilian Série A and the Brazil Cup patches, and for the South American giants the Libertadores badges, including the champions versions with the number of titles of each club.

Kids kits with patches

Some kids kits also accept patches, like the Borussia Dortmund 26/27 home kids kit, with the Bundesliga and Champions League options. Little fans love the same details as the grown ups.

Less is more

A shirt with the right patch looks complete. A shirt with too many looks crowded. The competition patch, or the competition plus the champions badge, is the most balanced choice.

Patches and customization together

Patches combine very well with a name and number on the back: it is the closest you get to the full match day look. See how to choose them in our name and number guide.

Caring for patches

Turn the shirt inside out before washing, use cold water and never iron over the patch. Cared for this way, a patch lasts as long as the shirt. More tips in the washing guide.

Find your team's shirt among the European clubs, the Brazilian clubs or the national teams.