At the Carpet Shop nightclub in Peckham, south London, the crowd gathered on Saturday night not just for England's victorious quarter-final match at the 2026 World Cup, but also for the fashion. The sold-out venue buzzed with young spectators who treated the game as a runway as much as a sporting event, blending vintage football shirts with noughties-inspired aesthetics.
Fashion as a statement of fandom
Luke Grandon and Mattia Guarnera, both 27, are self-described "massive" football fans. Guarnera wore a white polo shirt with "LOVE" on the back from a limited-edition World Cup collaboration between Lyle & Scott and artist Reuben Dangoor. "The spectacle is the football, but I'm also interested in the visuals that come alongside it," he said. Grandon sported a jersey designed by Guarnera: a white three lions shirt spray-painted with a woman's face.
Sophie Whilby, 27, does not normally follow football but tunes in "when it makes sense for me." She wore an England jersey from Palestinian streetwear brand FreePLTN. "It's all about the atmosphere for me and the built environment that comes with the culture," Whilby said. "It's just a fun way to rep your country, every England game I try to wear something new."
The return of noughties Wag culture
This World Cup has seen a resurgence of style from the early 2000s, particularly the aesthetics of "Wag culture" from the 2006 tournament in Baden-Baden, Germany. Social media algorithms and the 20-year trend cycle have revived the look online. Priya Patel, 31, wore an authentic vintage Michael Owen shirt from the early 2000s, cut into a crop top. "I love it. Victoria Beckham, Coleen Rooney, the little dogs in the big bags, the blow drys and the fake tan," she said. "I remember watching when I was little, this is quite nostalgic." Patel noted that the new generation of wives and girlfriends, such as Tolami Benson (fiancee of Bukayo Saka), had sparked her interest.
Martyna Kaczynska and Indiana Meager, both 19, were not alive in 2006 but echoed the sentiment. "I saw a photo of Declan Rice's girlfriend on Instagram, and she looked amazing," said Kaczynska. Meager added, "I feel like sometimes with the World Cup, women don't get included. Sometimes if you're a big supporter, women get laughed at and it's nice to have a part that's cool, that is for the women."
Nostalgia and camp at the venue
The courtyard at the Carpet Shop felt like a portal to 2006. Fans snapped selfies with pocket-sized digital cameras, wore low-rise denim and vintage T-shirts with faded Pacha cherry logos, and danced to a remix of Kylie Minogue's Can't Get You Out of My Head during half-time. Vanessa Hsiuh, 31, wore a bodysuit printed with a paparazzi image of Victoria Beckham at the 2006 World Cup, designed by brand Afta Youth. "It's just so camp. Pop culture just doesn't 'pop culture' in the way it used to," she said. "I hate the British tabloids, but there was a real theatre to them being kind of lairy that we don't have anymore."
Hsiuh became inspired by TikTok fancams of Cheryl Cole and Victoria Beckham. "It really resonated with how I originally accessed football, I'm really interested in the Wags more than the actual players. But then I actually watched the game and now I'm into it," she said. Her favourite player is Jude Bellingham because "he's beautiful. He's also a really good player so I feel justified in loving him, but really I love him because I love his face."
Reclaiming the St George's cross
While the three lions logo and St George's cross evoke nostalgia, fans acknowledged the rightwing, nationalistic connotations. Megan T, 33, wearing a vintage pale blue Umbro three lions jersey, said, "There's so many connotations. It's been quite a scary time for people of colour, especially with the rise of Reform. But in times like this, it's nice to see black and brown people, and people of colour, being proud to wear these tops, and to have a football team that is so diverse." Grandon added, "I think we need to reclaim it and be proud of it. We're in a time where we can bring it back. I'm proud to wear it."
