Move over, Travis Kelce: These World Cup athletes are coming for your style crown

Just in case the snazzy team kits hadn’t already tipped you off, the World Cup is shaping up to be a showcase of fashion flair, not just incredible feats of football.

Obviously, the main event is what happens on the field, but what the players are wearing off it is also drawing plenty of attention – and with good reason.

Decked out in labels like Jacquemus, Loewe, Hermès and Chanel, you’d be forgiven for thinking some of these teams had mistaken the tournament for Fashion Week.

Even before the first whistle was blown, players were showing off their style savvy in transit, passing through airports in head-to-toe designer fits – and, in the case of Team France, using the world’s most coveted handbag as cabin luggage.

If you’ll forgive us a pun: when it comes to fashion, these guys really know ball.

Scroll on to see some of the best off-field style from the World Cup contenders. Just saying... Travis Kelce has some serious competition for the ‘most stylish athlete’ crown.

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Fashion goals: The FIFA World Cup kits we can’t tear our eyes away from

Spain

While the rest of us travel in whatever activewear ensemble isn’t in the laundry basket on the day our flight is scheduled, Team Spain put us all to shame in their Loewe ensembles.

The players mixed and matched separates including cargo pants, jackets and polo shirts (not to mention the label’s iconic Puzzle bag) in shades of beige, navy, yellow and red.

As they disembarked at Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport in Tennessee, the effect was rather ‘2000s boy band’ in the best possible way.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Has anyone in human history looked as cool at an airport as Team DR Congo?

The athletes certainly lived up to their nickname, Les Léopards, as they arrived at Houston airport in black suits with animal-print fixings and matching bags.

The final touch on the suits, designed by Alvin Junior Mak, was on-trend cheetah brooches.

Ivory Coast

The flame emoji brought to life.

Team Côte d’Ivoire, aka Les Éléphants, arrived in Philadelphia in crisp all-white ensembles with bold orange tie-dye blazers as the cherry on top.

The jackets, designed by Ibrahim Fernandez, had elephants embroidered on the back.

France

Les Bleus are a stylish bunch, with most of the attention focused on the team’s incredible bag collection.

Case in point: many of the players use Hermès Birkins – yes, as in the world’s most coveted carry-all that comes with a waitlist numbering in the thousands – as cabin luggage.

The French athletes also toted Louis Vuitton, Goyard and Chanel bags as they arrived in the US. Trés, trés chic.

Portugal

Their looks were a little more subdued than others, but Portugal put on a stylish front as they arrived in Miami in matching Sacoor Brothers ensembles.

The outfits comprised a blue suit with tees and loafers in a deeper shade.

Not content to let France have all the fun with accessories, Cristiano Ronaldo teamed his suit with a Gucci bag.