Before she takes on a project, Xochitl Gomez asks herself two questions: “How much joy can this bring to the audience? And also, just, how much joy will it bring to me?”
Soccer has long been a source of happiness for actor and designer Xochitl Gomez, who grew up in the Echo Park area of Los Angeles. As a kid, she was mesmerized by the exaggerated “GOOOOOAAAAAL!” commentators would deliver when a team scored. Her attempts at replicating the exclamation, she says now, marked the real beginning of her acting career. With her family holding season tickets for a renowned LA soccer club, little Xochitl saw the game played at a high level up close—an experience that deepened her connection to the sport.
With the FIFA World Cup 2026™ on the horizon, Gomez is one of two designers that Bank of America, the Official Bank of U.S. Soccer and the FIFA World Cup 2026™, and Complex tapped to create custom soccer jerseys. Proceeds will be donated to expanding soccer in schools across the US. The jersey is the first piece of athleisure wear from the designer, and it’s sure not to be her last.
The finished product—available now on Complex Shop—is a garment that’s equal parts athletic and casual. It also pays tribute to Gomez’s Mexican heritage, with “Orgullo Latino” emblazoned above the number on its back—20, Gomez’s age.
“I know that the power in soccer is community, and building lasting friendships and lifelong bonds,” Gomez says. “And joy is already built into that.”
Team Effort
Caption: Bank of America x Xochitl Gomez The Art of Soccer Jersey
Price: $100
Soccer is about the crew—the people you post up with, whether you’re on the field in cleats or slip-on loafers. The game’s meaning changes from person to person, but its appeal is universal. That feeling shows up in Gomez’s jersey, which uses contrasting colors, claret and blue, to elevate the whole.
Scoring Goals
Caption: Bank of America x Xochitl Gomez The Art of Soccer Jersey
Price: $100
Jerseys have an established design language, but that doesn’t mean they’re not palettes for self-expression. Gomez used this piece to convey her own perspective on soccer through creative colorblocking and visual flourishes, alongside a cut that works with shorts, pants, and skirts alike.
The Games We Play
Caption: Bank of America x Xochitl Gomez The Art of Soccer Jersey
Price: $100
Gomez designed her jersey as a piece that can be worn anywhere, whether you’re headed to the stands to watch a game or the spot for a night out. But that doesn’t mean that, should the occasion present itself, you can’t suit up in it and hit the field yourself.
Sideline Story
Caption: Bank of America x Xochitl Gomez The Art of Soccer Jersey
Price:$100
Gomez was raised with soccer all around her, watching matches on TV and following from the stands, and that experience stayed with her. She carried it into this piece, which reflects her formative moments with the game and the culture surrounding it.
Field-Ready
Caption: Bank of America x Xochitl Gomez The Art of Soccer Jersey
Price:$100
Gomez’s jersey design reflects her background. Along with “Orgullo Latino” on its back, it features a Mexican floral design on its shoulders, proudly anchoring the piece in the world that raised her and introduced her to soccer.
Learn More about Bank of America’s efforts to expand soccer in schools in the US.
