Blackpink Lisa, DR Congo: China reacts to fashion at the Fifa world Cup 2026

Deconstructing soccer jerseys into dresses, dissecting team arrival looks at the airport, and championing WAGs, Chinese Gen Zers are making the Fifa World Cup 2026 their own fashion month on Xiaohongshu (also known as RedNote). Three days into the tournament, the event’s hashtag, #usamexicocanadaworldcup, had already passed 400 million impressions on Xiaohongshu; it has since topped 569.5 million. Game results and team fandoms drive plenty of that conversation, but fashion is pulling more weight than usual this year. A combination of the luxury athleisure boom, player celebrity impact, and China’s large soccer fanbase has fueled the Fifa World Cup 2026 to be one of the most fashion-focused yet. Here are some of the biggest moments for Chinese netizens so far. 1. DR Congo’s airport arrival Instantly a hit on Xiaohongshu, DR Congo’s squad landed in the US wearing custom black suits featuring flamboyant leopard-print panels, gold leopard brooches, and matching luggage — all designed by Congolese designer Alvin Junior Mak of JmakxParis. The leopard motif references the team’s nickname, Les Léopards, and draws from Congo’s La Sape movement, which is a cultural tradition that elevates tailoring and self-expression into art. The collection also honours the country’s 1974 World Cup squad, the first sub-Saharan African side to reach the tournament. On Xiaohongshu, #congo has climbed to 14 million impressions — boosted partly by Congo’s impressive draw against Portugal in its first game of the tournament, whose Cristiano Ronaldo commands one of the largest fanbases in China. Some commenters argued the squad should focus on football over fashion. But many loved the bold statement looks. 2. Lisa’s opening ceremony look When Blackpink’s Lisa performed the official World Cup anthem Goals at SoFi Stadium on June 12, Chinese fans went straight to the credits. She wore a custom leather two-piece by LA-based designer Zana Bayne, platform lace-up boots by South Korean label Ssimeez, and a mesh top by LA designer Michael Schmidt. The hashtag for the performance in Chinese has 3.2 million impressions, while the tag “Lisa World Cup” alone sits at 8.6 million. While the star does have a major global fanbase, her inclusion has attracted even more eyes from young Chinese K-pop fans to the World Cup. 3. France’s squad make Hermès and Chanel a ‘guochao’ conversation When France landed in Boston around June 10, the bags became a big story across global social platforms, from Instagram to Douyin. Ousmane Dembélé carried a black Hermès Hermès Haut à Courroies (HAC).. Marcus Thuram arrived with the green Chanel x Pharrell Williams Extra Larpe Flap. Jules Koundé brought a Louis Vuitton Keepall; Maxence Lacroix a Bottega Veneta Andiamo. Chinese users framed the haul as France bringing its “oversized local specialties,” reading Hermès and Chanel as national goods in the spirit of China's own guochao, or domestic pride movement. One post captioned the images “truly supporting domestic products” (真支持国货). It is a reading that says as much about how Chinese consumers relate to heritage brands as it does about the players carrying them. 4. Ma Sichun’s deconstructed Adidas look On June 13 and 14, Adidas hosted its “Legend Wild Field” (传奇野场) event in Shanghai, tied to the Tencent reality show Hop On, Football King, and timed with the World Cup. Chinese actress Sandra Ma Sichun appeared at the finale in a deconstructed soccer-jersey dress. The hashtag #jerseystyle has 316.4 million impressions on Xiaohongshu, with deconstructed, upcycled looks like Ma’s leading the way. The event was part of a wider Adidas China push that includes a Douyin livestream component and positions the brand at the center of the World Cup’s fashion adjacency in China. For this particular event, Adidas dominates over Nike, sponsoring 14 teams to Nike’s 12, as well as being the official Fifa partner. 5. Blokecore gets a feminine rewrite Referencing the “British football culture” fashion trend, #blokecore has 23.6 million impressions on Xiaohongshu. Propelled by the World Cup, netizens are bringing soccer looks back into their wardrobes. Illustrating the same aesthetic fueled by jerseys, there are 290.8 million impressions of #sportychic. Users are posting oversized soccer kit tops with lace skirts or hot pants, deconstructed jerseys worn as dresses, and feminine silhouettes built around team kits. The World Cup gives the trend a live content cycle that refreshes every match day — a useful signal for brands tracking where youth fashion in China is heading this summer.

Blackpink’s Lisa, DR Congo: World Cup 2026 in fashion so far

How Bottega Veneta weaved China’s forever it bag

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Blackpink’s Lisa, DR Congo: World Cup 2026 in fashion so far

How Bottega Veneta weaved China’s forever it bag