Soccer’s biggest stars are bringing fashion’s hottest game to the 2026 World Cup.
The 48 teams competing in the United States, Canada and Mexico began touching down in early June, trading in their tracksuits for sharp tailoring, designer bags and flashy displays of local color.
The tournament comes as soccer fashion crossover reaches a new peak. Luxury brands flock to the area to stock the costumes of national teams. For example, Nike has partnered with Jacquemus on its travel wardrobe in France, and Loewe has signed its first major sports deal in Spain.
The opening ceremony also featured glamorous attire, with Katy Perry performing at SoFi Stadium on Friday night wearing Stella McCartney with silver trim.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo emerged most loudly. The team, dubbed Les Leopards, arrived in Houston wearing custom black suits trimmed with animal-print sashes and cheetah-shaped brooches. Congolese designer Alvin Junior Mack has created a suit and matching travel bag set.
This expedition was historic. It was the first World Cup for the Democratic Republic of Congo since 1974, when they became the first sub-Saharan African country to qualify.
As expected, France also became more flexible. Les Bleus rolled into Boston Logan with a boutique’s worth of designer bags.
Forward Michael Oliseh carried a large black Hermès Birkin, while winger Ousmane Dembele brought two of his own, one black and one tan. Their teammates continued to rock the runway show on the tarmac. Marcus Thuram with a lime green Chanel x Pharrell flap bag, Robin Risser with a Louis Vuitton Keepall and Rayan Cherki with a sandy Hermès Kelly Maxi.
Japan continued to bring the situation under control. Samurai Blue, who has worn British house Dunhill for more than 25 years, arrived wearing a navy three-piece suit finished with a silk pocket square with a woodblock print motif.
In Monterrey, Tayloring received an unexpected number of top athletes, with Nuevo Leon Governor Samuel Garcia greeting each athlete with a cowboy hat.
Spain appears at Loewe, marking the first time that the Madrid house has donned the clothes of the national team. Creative directors Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez (formerly of Proenza Schouler) designed the team’s tailored suits, polo shirts, leather puzzle bags and XL Amazona 180 tote.
The Ivorian, known as Les Elephants, landed in Philadelphia wearing an orange and yellow tie-dye jacket with the country’s animals embroidered on the back. Ibrahim Fernandes, a designer from Ivory Coast, pays homage to the traditional dida cloth.
Senegal’s Lions of Teranga continued a tradition started at the African Cup of Nations by traveling in Dakar in gray and green ensembles by label Zakeb.
The tournament will run until July 19th, and the trophy and best-dressed title are still up for grabs.
