Soccer is the biggest sport in the world. And this summer, its biggest tournament is returning to North America for the first time in more than 30 years. This momentous occasion also happens to overlap with fashion and streetwear recently embracing the beautiful game. Whether you’re looking for gear to help cheer on your favorite team or simply want to get fly, this Complex Shop Soccer Edit has everything you need to get to work on the pitch or the pavement.
US Soccer and DC Comics are a perfect pairing when you think of it. Two American classics. Still, when two great things go well together, combining them is a delicate practice. No one wants to turn off the OG fans. That's where Peace Collective enters the chat, creating this subtle, tonal trucker bearing a "Dark Knight" bat logo up front and a "USA" badge on the side, making for two fun nods to American icons.
Lionel Messi might be the greatest soccer player of all time. This Visionary Club takes inspiration from him, putting his “Pulga Atómica” energy into this cropped jersey. With a V-neck, faded sky blue stripes, gold detailing, and Messi’s number 10 stamped on the front and back, this piece is a fitting tribute to many fans’ GOAT.
Wales Bonner adidas collabs always hit. In fact, they’re one of the main drivers of fashion’s recent soccer obsession. Here, the English designer elevates the Gazelle, with a python upper, earth-tone color story, and gum indoor sole. The perfect pair of sneakers for riding a trend while standing out.
These Y-3 shorts are a study in contrasts. They have a long, loose silhouette that’s very of-the-moment, but are constructed with an open mesh that recalls activewear from the ‘70s and ‘80s. That makes them stylish and breathable, which is a perfect combination for hot summer days and stylish summer nights.
Soccer players and fans alike require top notch cold-weather training gear that goes far beyond jerseys. Back in the day, that often meant some kind of sweatshirt. That history firmly places this OTA hoodie in the soccer culture milieu. Its studded sleeves, a zip front, and bold embroidered “O” logo at the left chest makes this piece a clean, detailed addition to any fan’s closet.
Rolling right off the Rolling Loud stage, this RL crest soccer jersey boasts a boxy fit and an embroidered badge recalling the stylized seals that all great football teams use to define their identities. Its lightweight mesh and breezy styling make it the perfect item for getting off a warm-weather summer fit.
Yohji Yamamoto's high fashion run with adidas via their joint Y-3 label dates back almost 25 years, making it one of the longer-running label linkups in active footwear. But after more than two decades, the Y-3 designs still look like they're from the future, even when riffing on something from the Adidas archives. Here, Yohji and team resurrect the 2006 footy boot known as the Beast, augmenting it with an apt snarling dragon motif and street-ready soft-rubber studded sole.
Nike's Total 90 line ruled 2000s football culture. You can relive that time with this stylish rework of a Total 90 jersey, here upcycled into a bandeau top by Frankie Collective. It's the perfect piece for a summer footy match or a festival.
Umbro is among the longest-running, most-classic soccer labels in the game. Here, they kick things into the old school anime universe, teaming up with the iconic series Captain Tsubasa for a capsule collection celebrating soccer itself. These Umbro shorts are adorned with an all-over sublimated print as well as Tsubasa’s #10 on the right leg, making for a cool piece that appeals to fans of the beautiful game, anime, or both.
When it first dropped in 2010, Nike's Gato was an innovative, tech-forward take on indoor soccer shoes. In a space where many competitors' shoes hadn't changed much since the '80s, the Gato had a mixed leather-and-textile upper for breathability and lightness, as well as far better cushioning than any other model. Those performance-based tweaks also happened to look fantastic, making the Gato a favorite among players, fans, and even skateboarders. Here, Nike's brought the Gato back, augmenting its futuristic design with metallic silver overlays that contrast sharply with its gum outsole. This one's ready for a rave or a rebound follow-up goal on the indoor pitch.
This pair of AZVA track pants takes a classic item and recreates it in ballooning proportions with distinct pull-tab ankle closures. White piping and retro colorblocking, they’re a unique item that works well for contemporary styling while speaking to the intersection of football and rave culture in the UK and Europe. We recommend rocking them loose and low with a cropped footy top and some sneakers.
Soccer boots are tight and light by design. That means players’ feet can take a beating during a 90-minute game, necessitating something nice and comfy for the bus ride or flight home. That used to mean simple slides, but now Nike’s taken things to another level, using ReactX foam to create true recovery shoes like the ReactX sandal that help feet feel better fast.
Drawing inspiration from the 2006 F50 football boot, this metallic gold adidas F50 Adiframe sneaker wraps the former's pitch-ready cleats in a soft rubber translucent outsole. This innovation preserves the original look, but makes them comfortable for all-day wear. The F50 Adiframe sneaker is also a laceless slip-on for easy access. Slip 'em on and head out to the terraces.
CLOT x adidas is an elite linkup. Edison Chen's streetwear imprint has a knack for remixing classic adidas DNA and these CLOT x adidas Heritage Print Shorts are all the proof you need. With a folksy jacquard pattern that slowly reveals Adidas Trefoils and CLOT logos, this design takes the shiny, sport side of football and recontextualizes them within an earthy, wearable milieu.
In addition to the sandal, Nike’s ReactX Rejuven8 also comes in a full-foot slip-on shoe offering more coverage that surrounds the wearer’s foot in comfort and support. A cluster of ventilation holes on the toe box and a sticky rubber outsole helps keep the shoe cool, grippy, and safe on all surfaces. Put them on after you exit the pitch and you might never take them off.
