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The 2026 World Cup may not kick off until Thursday, but the fashion tournament has already begun, as teams arrive at training camps across the US.
Fashion moments range from the outfits players wear to get to training, to the suits worn on planes and their training gear. The French team’s training camp in Clairefontaine became something of a catwalk this week thanks to the style of players such as Jules Koundé and Kylian Mbappé. Meanwhile, brands including Loewe, Gabriela Hearst, Patta and the rapper Drake’s Nocta have worked with teams on suiting and training gear.
Since the last tournament in 2022, fashion’s influence on football has skyrocketed, with brands working with players and clubs, and the personal style of players influencing what young men wear, often thanks to carousels of images on Instagram and the outfits photographed when they arrive at training. This is set to increase further at the World Cup, with players including the Spanish ace Lamine Yamal, the Netherlands’ Virgil van Dijk and Koundé already posting outfits to their Instagram accounts.
“Fashion has been given a currency that it hasn’t had before,” says Mahalia Chang, the style editor of GQ. “We’re seeing more of the players and, unconsciously or not, we’re putting more weight on what they wear, and I think they’re aware of that.”
Chang points to Yamal – who wore a Chanel jacket recently – and Van Dijk as players to watch for the tournament. “[Yamal] takes a lot of courage to step outside the box and you can tell he feels great,” she says. “[Van Dijk’s style] is elevated, classic but it still has a nice edge to it.”
Ahead of the tournament, here are the teams and players who are so far winning the style games.
Netherlands
It makes sense that the Dutch streetwear brand Patta would work with the Dutch team at the World Cup. The bold orange and black prints featuring lions and chains – shades of 80s Versace – have already been worn by the team captain, Van Dijk on the cover of Fantastic Man magazine and for a pre-tournament friendly against Algeria.
United States
As manager of the US team, Mauricio Pochettino regularly wears a relaxed-fit suit, with an open jacket and jersey underneath. When the US players were revealed this tournament, they were dressed in a similar manner – a clever mirroring that signals the synergy between boss and players, and also flashes forward to their potential post-playing careers as managers themselves.
England
Jude Bellingham has never been the kind of guy to take huge fashion risks. But, like his Real Madrid teammate Mbappé, he always looks pristine. While other teammates are in slightly crumpled sportswear or the regulation not-grey-and-not-blue-either England tracksuit, which as Sports Direct vibes, he turned up in tasteful beige co-ords and made sleeveless knits seem like a viable option in near 30-degree heat.
Spain
The Spanish brand Loewe has the kind of fashion pedigree usually reserved for catwalk shows. But it’s now also working with the national team on suits. The designs in question, worn by players including Nico Williams and Pedri, are therefore distinctly more fashion forward than most footballers’ suits– with wide trousers and one-button jackets. Classy.
Germany
Germany’s plane outfits were varied but all variations on the theme – whether slackets, chinos, tasteful knits or fresh white tees, all in a colour palette of navy, beige and white. The dads-on-tour look is not dissimilar to the designs that the England team wore when outfitted by Marks & Spencer for Euro 2024. Simple, approachable and wearable – think clothing equally at home at the school gates or a weekend barbecue.
France
Much has been made of the French team’s off-duty style prowess when arriving at their training camp Clairefontaine. While sadly they now have to wear their regulation training kits most of the time, there are still details to note. These Nike Air Max Plus sneakers – a current favourite with twentysomethings – ensure Les Bleus make their mark, even in uniform.
Japan
When departing Japan for the World Cup, the Samurai Blue wore pristine suits, with slightly asymmetrical waistcoats. The stand out player was defender Yuto Nagatomo, who added a traditional hachimaki headband, to symbolise fighting spirit. A different mood arrived when they reached Monterrey in Mexico - and the governor Samual Garcia handed the team cowboy hats.
Could have been a contender: Hungary’s Dominik Szoboszlai
Liverpool fans well know Szoboszlai’s ability to change games on the pitch. Although Hungary failed to qualify for the World Cup, his arrival at the team’s recent training camp in white just-below-the-knee culottes had a similar effect off it. GQ’s Chang describes his look as “a high-risk, high-reward kind of outfit”. Hermès bag aside, it has more in common with the looks found in east London than on most footballers, and has already spawned memes to that effect. Although he’s been mercilessly mocked by the football community for it, he’s top of the league for fashion.
