Sunburn. Flat pints. Thirty-yard screamers. Sambas. Kebabs. Forgotten heroes. Breakout stars. Bucket hats. Bet365 Super Boosts. Grown men in tears. Toilets that look like they’ve survived a natural disaster. And, somehow, an overwhelming sense of togetherness.
The World Cup is finally here. And with it comes a completely different way of life…
For the next 40 days, we all get to bathe in a new set of significantly lowered social acceptability standards. It’s now fine to pull an all-nighter on a Tuesday. You’re actively encouraged to spend as much time in the pub as possible. And there’s a general understanding that everything else in life takes a slight dip during this period – bank accounts, sleep quality, and actual working hours just to name a few.
Whatever happens in this tournament, we’re in for a ride that’s going to be equal parts chaotic, exhilarating and emotional. To help you make the most of it, we’ve rounded up the football-inspired products, gear and oddities that have caught our eye over the past year – from underwear to keyrings, and just about everything in between.
Lovers F.C x Rizla – El Loco Jersey
Lovers F.C. & Rizla’s second collaboration arrived just in time for the World Cup festivities, and this El Loco shirt is our pick of the bunch. Just be warned: the moment you step into a pub beer garden with this on, you’re going to be the first port of call for every skinless smoker in a 100ft radius.
The design that absolutely no one asked for, but Fera gave us anyway. This three pikes concept is a stroke of genius, and we’d like to shake the hand of the genius who came up with it. Wonder if they could also manage to get Baddiel & Skinner out of retirement for an accompanying anthem?
Maurice Van Es – Scanned Football Photos: Maradona
Far from your usual football publication tripe, this book spans 368 pages of Diego Maradona scans. Images of Maradona in national team kits. Images of Maradona in enormous coats. And even images of Maradona dangling a bunch of grapes over his private parts. It’s all there.
Rudy’s x Poretti – Football Scarf
In what might be the finest World Cup partnership since Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry, Rudy’s and Poretti have teamed up to produce a scarf that’s almost as delicious as the pizza that inspired it.
We love this Casual Co graphic tee and all the bootleg Italia 90 merchandise energy that comes with it.
There’s something about this iteration of the Samba – with the big tongue and toe guard – that absolutely reeks of international football. Typically sported by topless men with calves the size of small children, these are the sign of a football fan who can list off the number of misplaced passes by Madueke while consuming more Madri than the rest of the pub combined.
adidas Originals x Wales Bonner – Football
For £85, this Wales Bonner football might be the most expensive kick about you’ll ever have, but at least it’ll look nice as it sails over your next-door neighbour’s garden fence. Never to be seen again.
Sometimes wearing a football shirt for every kick-off can feel a bit much. That’s where graphic tees like this one from WWWC come in, taking inspiration from the mascot of the 1986 Mexico World Cup.
Back-to-back WWWC tees. We’d say we’re sorry, but we’re not. Their World Cup collection is set to launch soon, so watch this (@wwwcasuals) space.
Patagonia Wavefarer Bucket Hat
For the four years preceding the World Cup (Euros excluded), bucket hats are largely reserved for toddlers and Oasis impersonators. But the moment that opening whistle blows, they become the nation’s headwear of choice almost overnight, and this Patagonia one is considerably nicer than your current one, which is still stained from Euro 2024.
TRiCKETT – Forza Napoli Boxers
Quite fitting that the only Italian item on this list is a pair of pants, given that they didn’t qualify and all that. Unlucky lads.
Caroline Gardner – Football Keyring
If all the face paint, boppers, car flags, football shirts and bad calf tattoos are too much for you, here’s a subtle way to show your love for the beautiful game at this beautiful time of year.
This Jacquemus tee is about as elevated as World Cup merch gets. Loose fit, heavyweight cotton, football-shirt-inspired panelling, and a beautiful front print. Which is exactly why you’ll be absolutely devastated when Big Dave lashes a pint of Boddingtons straight across it.
about:blank – Knitted Football Shirt
This knitted football shirt would’ve been perfectly pitched for a UK winter during Qatar 2022, but you’ll still be thanking it when the 2:00 am kick-offs hit, and everyone else in the beer garden is left shivering in lightweight nylon.
Fera – Zephyr Jacket Three Pikes
To finish it all off, another piece from the Three Pikes collection. This chore jacket is so good you’ll still be reaching for it long after the tournament’s over – which will inevitably lead to some fairly uncomfortable conversations about A) why you’re wearing England football merchandise at Christmas, and B) why the lions aren’t actually lions, they’re fish.
