THE World Cup is more than just balls.
This year’s crop of soccerinspired merch is fashionable, trendy and won’t make you feel like an idiot for supporting your team.
So, forget the oversize polyester jerseys – this year there are T-shirts from A Bathing Ape, a limited-edition laptop from Toshiba and collaborations between huge sports companies like Umbro and Nike and cool street-wear labels like Kim Jones and Laces.
Be sure to act fast: Stores are selling out – and if you snooze, all the good stuff will be gone.
Will Pele be the new Che? In a nod to soccer royalty, Puma’s breaking out the big guns this year – a limited-edition run of Pele graphic tees, $55 at soccer.com/puma and Puma stores.
British menswear designer Paul Smith is taking his famous pinstripes to the field. His latest collection, World Cup-inspired Tshirts, striped soccer balls and sleek leather wallets with Smith-style soccer balls emblazoned across the inside. The collection is available at the Paul Smith boutique (108 Fifth Ave.).
Did your team disappoint? Rewrite your team’s tragic history with the 2006 FIFA World Cup video game. Should you care, in gaming company EA Sports’ simulation of all 32 teams, the Czech Republic team won it all.
The one-off Laces-Nike world football bag collaboration is available for $90 exclusively at Laces (252 Mott St.). There are only four bags per country for sale – U.S.A., Brazil, Holland, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal and Croatia – and they all come with a referral card to the NikeID studio.
Even your iPod can have a soccer personality. The super-soft limited-edition iPod cases come in the colors of select
World Cup teams. For $40 at sumocases.com, you can outfit your electronic best friend in colors of Italy, Argentina, U.S.A., Mexico, Spain, Germany or Brazil.
If sneakers and cleats aren’t your thing, step into Cole Haan’s tribute to the games – a super luxurious and limited run of crocodile, ostrich and suede styles inspired by the colors of the American, Japanese, Brazilian, Mexican and Dutch teams. The kicks are $198-$298 at colehaan.com.
Whether you’re hoping for a U.S. victory, a goooal from Brazil or the Italian studs to score, chances are you’ll find the perfect tee – that actually fits – to support your team at Modell’s from $19.99-$29.99.
The Adidas “Hand of God” track jacket – a nod to Maradona’s questionable but clutch goal for Argentina in 1999 – is sold out everywhere except eBay. If you can get your hands on one of the most coveted pieces of World Cup
2006 merch, you’re definitely our hero.
You won’t have any trouble finding fellow Netherlands football fans – they’ll be rocking the brightest colors.
The Adidas track top, $55 at shopadidas.com, complete with the 2006 FIFA World Cup logo across the side seam, is the coolest one we’ve seen.