Soccer is dominating the sneaker market, and young people are buying in. Keeping on their path of leaning into niche internet aesthetics, young people have been trading in chunky basketball sneakers for sleek, soccer-inspired silhouettes lately. The trend started with the viral rise of shoes like the Adidas Samba or Onitsuka Tigers, and has now turned into a full-on fashion moment, with brands like Nike, Louis Vuitton, and New Balance releasing soccer-inspired styles meant for the street, not the field. From Rosalía to Jack Harlow, celebrities are helping push the trend forward too, while events like the upcoming 2026 World Cup are boosting soccer culture in the U.S. With Gen Z fashion lovers always looking for something new (and a little nostalgic, of course), soccer shoes are becoming the unexpected “it” shoe of 2025. (BoF)
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