England’s World Cup 2026 campaign is off to a stylish start — though not everyone is a fan. The Three Lions arrived for their final warm-up match against Costa Rica wearing striking silver pre-match jackets designed in collaboration with London skate brand Palace Skateboards, and the internet had plenty to say.
The shiny metallic jackets feature a black zip, black hood strings, the England crest, and a red Nike swoosh on the chest. But the interstellar look drew immediate comparisons to space suits, with fans flooding social media with comments like “just got back from Cape Canaveral” and jokes about the team launching into orbit rather than onto the pitch.
England went on to win the match 3-0 in Orlando, but the real talking point was the pre-match fashion. The collection is a collaboration between Nike and Palace Skateboards — a London-based skate and streetwear brand with a cult following — bringing a distinctly urban edge to England’s tournament gear.
The Palace collaboration represents a growing trend of football kit brands partnering with streetwear labels to create lifestyle-oriented merchandise that appeals to younger fans. It’s not just about match-day performance anymore — it’s about what players wear walking into the stadium, what fans wear to watch parties, and what ends up in streetwear rotations for years to come.
For those who actually like the polarizing look, the collection goes on sale Friday, June 12 through Palace and select Nike retailers. Fans can expect the full range including the anthem jacket, matching tops, and other England x Palace co-branded items.
This isn’t the first time England has pushed boundaries with pre-match gear, but the spaceman aesthetic is certainly one of the most memorable. Whether you love it or hate it, the conversation around it proves that World Cup merchandise has become as much about culture and lifestyle as it is about supporting the team.
The England squad, managed by Thomas Tuchel, is looking sharp in more ways than one. After a confident 3-0 win in their final tune-up, the buzz around this Palace collaboration adds an extra layer of excitement for fans gearing up for the tournament. With the kit available on June 12, fans can decide for themselves whether the spaceman look is a fashion statement or a fashion faux pas.