I never expected that I would willingly consume World Cup content. For most of my life, Victoria Beckham was my sole reference to football, followed by a somewhat vague understanding of her husband David Beckham’s ability to bend things. Somewhere between spotting fashionably on-point vintage kits and a parade of luxury bags expensive enough to upholster an executive lounge a few times over, it became impossible—even for me—to scroll past the tournament updates on social media.
Here are the starting XI sartorial moments that stole the tournament for me.
1. Timothée Chalamet’s vintage jacket, which is as old as him
Forget this season’s jersey, the Dune star turned up to the semi-final match between France and Spain wearing a vintage Adidas France track jacket from 1996-98. He paired the iconic French Football Federation (FFF)’s blue, white and red retro bomber with oval sunglasses and silver sneakers.
Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
2. Argentina took method dressing onto the pitch
For its semi-final against England, Team Argentina chose its away jersey in navy, reminiscent of two of its most famous World Cup victories over the same opponents in 1986 and 1998. Superstition may have informed the decision, but the message was unmissable: history was being worn as psychological armour. In fashion, we call it method dressing.
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Starting players of Argentina pose for group photos before the semifinal match between Argentina and England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta, the United States, July 15, 2026. (Photo by Li Ming/Xinhua via Getty Images)Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images
