Participants at the 2026 Gothia Cup will have the privilege of wearing match jerseys personally created by two Swedish international footballers who, only a few years ago, were competing in the same tournament themselves.

It’s a remarkable full-circle moment. Not long ago, Swedish national team stars Monica Jusu Bah and Felicia Schröder were young dreamers taking part in the Gothia Cup — the world’s largest international youth football tournament held in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Their bond with the event has come alive again as they bring their creativity to the same competition they cherished as youngsters, designing a brand-new set of match kits that will feature in this year’s edition. It’s truly a case of players designing for players.

Monica and Felicia have returned not only as inspirations but also as designers shaping the experience for the next generation. Their task was to create a match kit from their own viewpoint, rooted in their personal football journeys and their understanding of what it means to aspire, compete, and represent something greater than oneself. The goal was not to design a conventional football uniform, but one that embodies identity, unity, and ambition.

“We got tattoos together as a symbol of our friendship, and we thought this would make a great football shirt for the young players representing SKF and Meet the World in Gothia Cup,” they shared.

“The idea for the design comes from a personal story,” explained Jusu Bah. “We got tattoos together as a symbol of our friendship, and we thought this would make a great football shirt for the young players representing SKF and Meet the World in Gothia Cup.” At 23 years old, the winger doesn’t need to think back too far to recall the mindset of the players who will wear her design. For Schröder, that connection is even closer. At just 19, she is only slightly older than some of the participants in this year’s Gothia Cup, where the age range runs from 11 to 18. Adding to the inspiration, Schröder recently signed for Real Madrid this summer, proving just how much can be achieved in a short span of time.

The record-breaking teenager elaborated, “The sun and the moon represent our differences but also what unites us as friends and footballers. It’s wonderful to share this with football lovers around the world. We wanted to create something that feels personal — something we would have been proud to wear when we were younger. It’s not just a shirt; it symbolises where you come from and where you’re headed.”

She continued, “We hope the players feel proud and connected when they wear it, as though they’re part of something bigger. It’s about passing something on. We’ve been in their shoes, and now we can give something back.”

By designing for the next generation, they highlight the power of football dreams and how far they can take someone. Their personal touch is evident throughout the creative process, which was driven by instinct and emotion rather than technicality. The jerseys are exactly the kind of shirts they would have loved to wear as young players themselves. The Gothia Cup remains an extraordinary international celebration — the world’s largest and most diverse youth football event, staged every year in Gothenburg, Sweden, featuring around 1,900 teams from 75 countries, playing nearly 5,000 matches across 112 pitches.

The tournament takes young players on a unique journey, offering them a rare chance to explore the world, build friendships, and connect with peers from across the globe.

A month after the tournament, Jusu Bah and Schröder will take part in the European playoffs in October, which will determine whether Sweden qualifies for next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil — and expectations are high. When the young players put on the kits designed by Jusu Bah and Schröder this July, they can dream big, imagining themselves breaking records and playing on the world’s biggest stage, believing wholeheartedly, “that could be me.”