Harry Kane is leading di Skechers' rise in football England's captain is the brand’s ambassador at the 2026 World Cup
An unexpected player has entered the world of elite football boot suppliers without asking for permission. Its journey into football has begun less than three years ago, yet Skechers is steadily making a name for itself, carving out a place alongside the holy trinity of Nike, adidas and Puma. Much of that momentum has been driven by one of the standout stars of the 2026 World Cup, the man leading England's pursuit of a first world title in 60 years: Harry Kane, the first footballer to sign with the Los Angeles-based company in 2023, long renowned for the comfort of its everyday sportswear and casual footwear. Partnering with the Bayern Munich striker proved to be a masterstroke, instantly giving the brand credibility within the football industry. With a growing roster of high-profile player partnerships and an increasingly competitive range of performance boots, Skechers Football is emerging as one of the game's most intriguing new players, building a recognisable and innovative identity. Its potential is enormous, and the World Cup effect could provide the brand with another significant boost.
Which players wore Skechers at the 2026 World Cup?
The number of World Cup players wearing Skechers boots has been relatively small, partly due to unfortunate circumstances. Harry Kane with England, Anthony Elanga with Sweden and Bariş Alper Yılmaz with Turkey are the brand's three representatives making their World Cup debut. Kane started the tournament wearing the SKX_2 from the Sunset Pack before switching to a special edition after breaking England's all-time goalscoring record. The Swedish forward opted for the latest Razor 2 colourway, released shortly before the start of the tournament, with Yılmaz making the same choice.
Without question, Mohammed Kudus was also expected to join them as one of Ghana's Black Stars. However, a serious quadriceps injury followed by a hamstring setback in January shattered his hopes of taking part in the tournament. A similar fate befell Isco, who had returned to Spain's national team last June after a six-year absence following an outstanding season. His 2025/26 campaign turned into a nightmare from pre-season, when he suffered a fractured fibula. After returning in November, just four days into his comeback, the Real Betis midfielder sustained a severe injury involving the cartilage in his right ankle, one that even threatened to bring his career to a premature end.
Another player who could have been wearing Skechers at the World Cup is Sem Steijn, the Feyenoord talent whose past year has been ravaged by injuries unlike anything he had experienced before. Called up by Ronald Koeman last September, he made his debut for the Netherlands, but the 131 days he spent sidelined inevitably pushed him out of the Oranje setup. Even so, several players representing emerging football nations have chosen to wear either the SKX_2 or the Razor 2. They include Iraqi striker Ali Al-Hamadi, Jordanian winger Mahmoud Al-Mardi and Uzbekistan international Dostonbek Khamdamov.
Which Skechers boot model did Harry Kane wear at the 2026 World Cup?
As mentioned, Kane is Skechers' past, present and future. The first player to sign with the brand remains the man who draws all eyes to Skechers, serving as its undisputed poster boy. Having just completed his move to Bayern Munich at the time, the striker has been the company's calling card since the summer of 2023, further cemented by his lifetime deal with the brand. Kane features in every commercial and marketing campaign, including the pre-World Cup launch that Skechers could hardly afford to miss to unveil its Sunset Pack. The England captain stars in the Skechers Motel campaign, which introduces the brand's ambassadors at the tournament alongside the new colourways inspired by the sunset over Los Angeles, as we previously covered here. The campaign also features cameo appearances from Ruud Gullit enjoying a drink by the pool, Frank Lebœuf, Jamie Redknapp and internet comedy duo The Pointer Brothers, cast as hotel bellhops. The close relationship between Kane and Skechers has also resulted in an exclusive lifestyle footwear and apparel collection bearing the striker's name.
During the World Cup, Kane switched the colourway of his SKX_2 once again, this time for a very special reason. His goal against Panama saw England's all-time leading scorer surpass Gary Lineker for the most goals ever scored by an English player at the FIFA World Cup. To celebrate the milestone, Skechers unveiled the World Cup Record Edition. Released exclusively through Pro:Direct Soccer, the white-based boot with bold red detailing inspired by the English flag was limited to just 26 pairs. Kane debuted the exclusive edition in Atlanta during England's Round of 16 clash against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and fittingly marked the occasion by scoring the decisive brace that completed the comeback after an early deficit.
Skechers' football journey
To understand how Skechers has reached this point in its rapid rise, it's worth rewinding the clock, even if only by a few years. The story begins in the summer of 2023, when the California-based company entered the football market with a clear focus on the two qualities its products have long been known for: comfort and performance. It took a year and a half of research and development before the brand's first football boot was ready to be worn by an elite player. With Harry Kane as its flagship athlete, lacing up the blue SKX_01 from the Prime Pack, Skechers gradually attracted several key names who bought into the brand's new vision, particularly in the Premier League. Anthony Elanga, fresh from his move to Nottingham Forest, and Romain Esse, then at Millwall, became the other two ambassadors of 2023, both wearing the all-black Razor from the Trench Pack. Four new Packs followed in 2024, with the Diamond Ice standing out among them, while three more high-profile players joined the roster: Oleksandr Zinchenko, then at Arsenal, Mohammed Kudus following his €40 million move to West Ham United, and Galatasaray star Bariş Alper Yılmaz.
From 2025 onwards, alongside Brighton midfielder Matt O'Riley, Skechers shifted towards a balanced strategy of signing promising young talents from across Europe while also bringing established international stars nearing the latter stages of their careers. Chronologically, the young prospects include AS Roma's Niccolò Pisilli, Club Brugge forward Romeo Vermant, Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia, born in 2004, and Braga striker Pau Víctor. On the other side are experienced names such as Ajax's Steven Berghuis, who opened up the Dutch market for the brand, Real Betis playmaker Isco Alarcón and, more recently, Radamel Falcao. Excluding the Colombian striker, the latest arrivals are the already mentioned Sem Steijn and Chelsea's 2007-born Jesse Derry. The women's game is also represented by high-profile internationals including Spain stars Misa Rodríguez and Leila Ouahabi, as well as Newcastle United forward Shania Hayles. Throughout this expansion, Skechers has remained committed to just two silos—the SKX and the Razor—refining both models every year while regularly introducing fresh colourways.
Since 2024, Skechers has also become the official kit supplier for a growing number of clubs and national teams. The first partnership came with Mohun Bagan Super Giant, a collaboration that immediately delivered the Indian Super League title in its debut season. The following year, the Northern Mariana Islands national team and Colombia's Fortaleza FC joined the roster. Expansion continued with deals for Mexico's Pachuca and the Philippines' Tuloy ahead of the 2025-26 season, before Chilean side Everton de Viña del Mar signed on a few months later. Most recently, Querétaro, another club from Mexico's top flight, has been confirmed as the latest addition to an ever-growing portfolio that looks set to expand even further.