If teams can showcase a style collectively, there are always players who stand out – think of them as a match winner, if you will. Kylian Mbappé is a sure thing, with style that is understated and classic with the occasional surprise. “He doesn’t take many risks, but he’s always very cleanly dressed,” Miller says.

Meanwhile, Farid Hounkponou, Personal Shopper at MR PORTER, nominates Jules Koundé – another star of the Clairefontaine camp. “He has played a big part in changing the narrative around how footballers approach fashion and personal image,” Hounkponou says. “His style feels intentional, fashion-forward and authentic rather than simply trend-driven.”

Elsewhere, Sidhu namechecks England’s Declan Rice – for his style, but also his attitude. “I think he wears [clothes] with such charisma and real joy,” he says. “Whenever we see images of him off the pitch, he always just looks like he’s having the best time.”

While smaller brands do have presence at this World Cup, Nike and Adidas dominate the gear, with the Swoosh on 12 team kits and the three stripes on 14. Much of the pre-tournament chatter has been about Adidas’ Japan away kit, with its thin multicoloured stripes. This is Miller’s top pick. “It looks like the quintessential old-school football kit from head to toe, with finer details that are unique to Japan’s specific identity,” he says.

Chang goes for Norway’s home kit by Nike, a special one if only for the fact Martin Ødegaard, Erling Haaland and co will be back in the tournament after 28 years. “They’re one of the only teams that has not done the pattern-on-pattern thing,” she says. “It’s a pure red, which is much more classic.” Hounkponou votes for Norway’s all-black away kit. “It reminds me of the iconic New Zealand national rugby union team aesthetic,” he says.

In the past, fans have made trends happen when seen on broadcasts – think Wales and the bucket hat at the World Cup in 2022 or the popularity of the 1990 England kit. This time, however, Miller is interested to see how fans of teams from countries with communities in the US, such as Haiti, will express themselves. “They are always so vibrant with their fashion and style of music,” he says. “It will be fun to see how they translate that into style.”

Equally, those lucky enough to watch a World Cup game live might mirror wider trends in football and fashion. “Nowadays when you go to Arsenal games, people are very intentional about what they wear or the type of jersey they wear,” Miller says. “It’s not just ‘whatever’ anymore, it’s a statement. I think the World Cup is going to be the first one that’s like that.”

Hounkponou thinks that football shirts have also gone beyond just the stands. “People have now started to wear them for nights out and other non-sport-related celebrations,” he says. “Fashion today feels much more comfortable embracing performance and sportswear references as part of everyday dressing.”

In club football, manager style is experiencing something of an evolution, typified by the plaid Our Legacy shirt that Pep Guardiola wore for a Manchester City game in March. But will this casualisation of boss style make its way into international football, too? Some of us hope not.

“Maybe I’m a little bit traditional here, but I think on the world’s biggest sporting stage… there’s almost a duty for the manager to [dress smartly],” Sidhu says.

Miller singles out Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti as a good reference. “He’s one of the last few high-profile managers of that suit-and-tie professor vibe,” he says. “He brings that sartorial element to touchline style that I really love.”

By contrast, Chang is here for any experimentation. “It’s in the US, so there’s a bit of showboating anyway,” she says. “It’s going to be a very flashy tournament. I’m not saying anyone should be wearing off-the-runway looks, but let’s have a little bit of style in there.”