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Earlier this year, I found myself in a drawn-out Vinted conversation as I tried and eventually succeded in tracking down what would become one of my most prized possessions – a Catania football shirt, the Sicilian city that has served as my spiritual home for nearly two decades. If you’d have told me a few years ago that I would scour the internet for a vintage football shirt, I’d have been very dubious indeed, and yet here we are. Fashion and football have never been as closely embedded as they are in 2026, and with World Cup season upon us, I’ve rounded up my favourite items influenced by the beautiful game – ready for match-day viewing.
FOOTBALL FASHION HAS FOUND ITS PLACE OUTSIDE THE PLAYERS. Countless luxury brands have been influenced from Grace Wales Bonner and her long-standing collaboration with adidas to Balenciaga’s cult jersey and Burberry’s ‘A Good Sport’ campaign. Conner Ives’ shirred football top, first launched for the 2025 Euros, has become a hit with the fashion girls, crafted from pre-loved, short sleeve UK jerseys. FOOTBALL SHIRTS ARE THE HERO STYLE; look for slouchy styles that can be tucked into a pair of high-waisted jeans or shorts. If you’d rather a more subtle nod, consider a pair of RETRO RUNNING SHORTS OR TRACK PANTS, which pair nicely with an OVERSIZED WHITE SHIRT.
Embrace the renaissance of the retro sportswear brands including Umbro and Fila – find vintage versions at 80s Classics – and give your footwear careful consideration. Nike’s Cortez style is very much back, and – despite Rishi Sunak’s best efforts to ruin their reputation – Adidas Sambas are still going strong. The sneakerina – part sneaker, part ballerina pump – has become 2026’s unexpected It shoe, sporty but feminine. If Miu Miu’s original is out of reach, M&S does a great budget-friendly option.
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Lead image: Burberry
Ella Alexander is Citizen Femme’s fashion features editor. She started her career at the Evening Standard, and has since held senior editorial roles at Vogue, The Independent and Harper’s Bazaar, where she remains a contributing editor. She also writes for The Telegraph, Sunday Times Style, Service95 and CNN. She is an author, having co-written Dame Zandra Rhodes’ memoir, Iconic: My Life In Fashion In 50 Objects, published by Transworld in July 2024. Her favourite travel destination is Catania, Sicily’s second city.
