Do Male Soccer Players Wear Sports Bras?

At the FIFA World Cup, there’s plenty to talk about—from tournament upsets to impressive world-class play. Yet one of the biggest talking points online has nothing to do with the scoreboard. Instead, people on social media are asking: Are male soccer players wearing … sports bras?

The question gained traction earlier this month when the Czech Republic’s midfielder, Pavel Šulc, had his jersey pulled during a match against South Korea, briefly revealing what appeared to be a white sports bra underneath. So what exactly are they wearing?

Are Male Soccer Players Wearing Sports Bras at the World Cup?

But as it turns out, the snug-fit garment isn’t a “bra-for-men.” It’s actually a GPS performance-tracking vest that many professional teams use to collect data on their athletes. These metrics include top speed, sprint distance, training load, and movement patterns, exercise physiologist Susannah Reiner told Outside.

“It’s more of a vest than a sports bra, since it’s not providing support in any way,” Reiner, who also founded the sports and health tech research firm TheoryEx, said. And across world-class sports teams, high-tech wearables like these are pretty standard. “I would expect to see it in almost every elite soccer club,” she said. In fact, pro teams like Real Madrid, the French National Team, and Chelsea Football Club use athlete-monitoring systems from companies like Catapult to track performance, according to Catapult’s website.

How Do These ‘Sports Bras’—er, Vests Work?

Technically, the vest itself doesn’t contain any technology. Its main purpose is to secure a small, tracking unit onto the player’s upper back, between their shoulder blades—a placement Reiner says is intentional. “It’s close to the center of mass of the athlete,” she said. “So it provides high-quality data without interrupting movement or play.”

Inside the device are several sensors that work together to monitor how a player moves. One of the most important is a GPS tracking device, Reiner explains, which communicates with satellites to estimate a player’s position on the field. The unit also contains an accelerometer to measure the user’s speed (along with changes in speed) and a heart rate monitor.

Together, these sensors create a detailed picture of how a player is performing, providing insight into metrics like total distance, top speed, sprint efforts, overall workload, and intensity levels. Pro athletes can access all these data points in an app, and the results can reveal potential injury risk or when it’s safe to return to their sport post-injury.

“A lot of these data points can be very helpful with how a coach is utilizing their team in the best way,” Laura McDonald, a clinical exercise physiologist and owner of the sports training practice, E2O Denver Health and Performance Physiology, told Outside. “Like, who can sustain different bouts of energy throughout the 90-minute match?”

But Why a Sports-Bra Shaped Vest Instead of a Wrist Device?

And there’s a good reason for these trackers to be placed in a sports bra-shaped vest rather than on the wrist or waist. The vest keeps the GPS tracker in an optimal position for satellite tracking, and the chest is the safest location in high-contact sports, per Catapult.

Can You Buy a GPS Performance Tracker—and Do Nonprofessional Athletes Need Them?

Technically, you can. For example, Catapult offers a non-professional version. But both experts we spoke with agree that the average athlete doesn’t need this level of tech.

“I mean, how often are you going to use acceleration counts, sprint counts, or how much time you’re walking versus running?” Reiner says. “These are sophisticated measurements that wouldn’t really change your behaviors.” Not to mention, having access to these statistics isn’t useful on its own: elite pros have coaches, sports scientists, trainers, and analysts who can translate numbers into strategic training adjustments. “It would be tough for the everyday person to understand and utilize this in their day-to-day,” McDonald said.

For most people, simpler wearables that measure fundamentals—like pace, distance, heart rate, and recovery—are likely the better investment. Both experts recommend options like Polar’s chest straps, WHOOP’s fitness band, and Garmin’s smartwatches.

Ultimately, the best wearable isn’t the one that collects the most data, but the one that provides insights you can actually use, says Reiner. “There’s an educational curve. Once you understand what works for you and how to change those metrics in a positive way, that’s what matters.”

Basically, you don’t need a high-tech sports bra to up your performance game. But don’t let that stop you from wearing your favorite real sports bra and a fitness watch.

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