The 2026 FIFA World Cup is shaping fashion too

Words, SVD. Photo, adidas, Puma, SVD.

May 14, 2026.

Next summer, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will turn North America into the absolute center of the world’s biggest sport. This edition of the tournament, taking place from June 11 to July 19, will not only be the first to be hosted by three countries (the United States, Mexico, and Canada), but also the biggest in history, with 48 national teams, 16 host cities, new iconic stadiums, and millions of fans hoping to secure tickets and experience it live.

But the World Cup stopped being just about football a long time ago. Today, it also shapes how we dress, which sneakers we wear, and which cultural references dominate the conversation. From vintage football jerseys to technical boots reinterpreted as fashion objects, as well as collaborations between brands and designers directly inspired by the pitch, football culture has become one of the most influential languages in contemporary fashion.

The World Cup’s influence on fashion: from official kits to retro-football

The history of the FIFA World Cup began in 1930, when Uruguay hosted the first tournament organized by FIFA. Over the decades, this international sporting event has evolved into a global cultural phenomenon capable of influencing music, design, visual identity, and fashion.

The connection between football and style intensified especially during the 80s and 90s, when football jerseys, national team kits, and training apparel began leaving the stadium and integrating into urban culture. What was once exclusive sportswear became part of everyday wardrobes thanks to the British terrace scene, hip-hop culture, and later the rise of streetwear.

In recent years, this relationship has evolved into a new aesthetic sensibility marked by the “blokecore” phenomenon and the rise of the retro-football trend. Today, fanwear and sneakers inspired by football cleats coexist with tailoring, denim, and luxury accessories. Football references no longer belong exclusively to the stands — they are now fully embedded in the global fashion conversation. 

And everything points to the 2026 World Cup strengthening football’s influence on contemporary aesthetics even further.

adidas x CLOT by Edison Chen: football reinterpreted

One of this season’s collections that best reflects the connection between football and fashion is the new adidas x CLOT by Edison Chen proposal. Presented as a reinterpretation of adidas’ football archive, the “Mundial” collection explores football’s role as a global cultural language beyond sport itself.

Through Edison Chen’s perspective, classic football-inspired designs — including jerseys, shorts, and sneakers — are reworked using sophisticated materials and innovative silhouettes, in line with the iconic East-meets-West aesthetic that defines the CLOT founder’s vision.

At the center of the collection are the Mundialdrille and the Samba Espadrille, two classic adidas models reimagined as espadrilles, featuring raffia elements and premium leather uppers.

Puma and the national teams

While the aesthetic conversation around football continues to grow, Puma is looking back to the roots through a collection of official kits from the national teams it sponsors, including Portugal, Egypt, Morocco, Senegal, Ghana, and Ivory Coast.

Each jersey — both Home and Away versions — incorporates visual references tied to each country’s cultural identity: traditional symbols, historic graphic patterns, and national colors reinterpreted through a contemporary lens.

Ultimately, alongside the rise of retro-football, national team jerseys are experiencing a new wave of popularity within fashion. They are no longer worn only during matches, but now form part of everyday styling alongside oversized denim, loafers, technical shorts, and sneakers inspired by football boots.

Our 2026 World Cup selection

At SVD, we’ve brought this entire universe together in a special selection featuring the latest adidas x CLOT by Edison Chen releases, Puma’s official jerseys, and some of the collaborations that best represent the current connection between fashion and football.

Among them is the latest adidas x Wales Bonner collection, featuring a football dedicated to the World Cup and the Predator Elite Fold-Over Tongue x Wales Bonner, alongside proposals from brands like Andersson Bell and Patta, which reinterpret football imagery through a contemporary perspective.

Football passion no longer ends when the match is over.