The 2026 World Cup has already delivered goals, noise, drama, and plenty of talking points. But there is another detail that keeps appearing if you look closely enough. It is not a tactical trend or a surprise breakout star. It is the growing number of players running around with holes cut into the backs of their socks.

This is not some sudden World Cup oddity either. Footballers have been doing it for years, and the trend has clearly stuck. Australia’s defeat to the United States on Friday offered another reminder, with several players appearing to have taken scissors to their kit before kick off. For fans watching the game, it raised the same question again. Why are so many elite players still doing this, and does it actually help?

Why players cut holes in their socks

The simplest answer is comfort.

Modern football socks are usually made from polyester. That material is useful because it keeps its shape well and does not hold as much water, but it can also feel tight and restrictive. For some players, that becomes a problem, especially around the calves.

The theory is that cutting holes into the socks helps relieve pressure on the calf area. Some players believe this improves blood flow, reduces discomfort, and lowers the risk of cramp or injury. In practical terms, the idea is that it allows them to move more freely and feel less restricted during matches.

That is the unofficial performance argument behind it, and clearly plenty of players buy into it. But football being football, there is more to it than science alone. There is also an element of personal preference, confidence, and self expression. If a player feels more comfortable and more like himself on the pitch, that can have its own effect.

Former West Ham United striker Frank Nouble summed that up neatly when speaking in 2023. “You look good, you feel good, you play good. It’s always about being as comfy as possible on the pitch.”

That idea probably explains why the trend has survived for so long. Even if the physical benefit is up for debate, the psychological side of it matters to players.

Is there any medical evidence behind it?

This is where things get less certain.

Dr Raj Brar of 3CB Performance said in 2023 that there is no medical evidence supporting the idea that cutting holes in socks works as a preventative measure.

“One way of medically reducing pressure on the calves is the opposite of cutting holes in them, through using higher-pressure compression socks in between games as a recovery measure,” he said.

“That will increase circulation and reduce swelling to varying degrees based on the level of pressure (tightness) of the sock. Besides, footballers get more than enough activity through their calves to not worry about circulation and swelling pooling up.”

So while players may feel a difference, there is no clear scientific backing for the habit as a way of preventing injury or improving performance. That does not mean the players are imagining everything. It just means the evidence is not there in any formal sense.

In football, though, players often stick with routines that make them feel right, even when the science is a little thin. That has always been part of the sport.

What brands and kit experts have said

There is also the question of how football socks are actually made.

Former Hummel chief executive Allan Vad Nielsen explained that some brands produce socks very tightly so their logos stay visible and sharp. That can create a snug fit which some players simply do not enjoy.

He said: “Some brands knit their socks very tightly to improve the visibility and clarity of their logos, which can result in a snug fit that some players find uncomfortable. But more advanced materials like polypropylene provide better consistency and durability.

“New technologies have enabled better cushioning zones in the ankles and compression zones that provide better blood transportation, reducing the risk of injuries and enhancing performance. Additionally, mesh inserts are now used in football socks to improve heat control and ventilation, keeping the feet dry and cool.”

That is an interesting part of the debate. On one side, players are still taking matters into their own hands with scissors. On the other, manufacturers are constantly developing materials, structure, and ventilation to improve comfort anyway.

So perhaps this trend says as much about player habit and trust as it does about actual sock design. If a footballer finds something that feels right on matchday, especially at a major tournament, he is unlikely to stop doing it just because a brand says the technology has improved.

Is football the only sport where this happens?

Not entirely, but it does seem to be far more common in football than elsewhere.

There are examples in other sports. In cricket, for instance, some fast bowlers cut holes in their boots so their toes can poke through. The idea there is to stop their feet rubbing against the end of the shoe when they land on the turf. So the instinct is similar. Remove pressure, avoid discomfort, perform more naturally.

But football has embraced the idea more visibly and more widely. That may be because so much of the sport is built on routine, feel, and the little details that players believe give them an edge. Sock height, tape, boot fit, shin pad size, sleeve length, all of it becomes part of a player’s identity.

That is one reason this subject keeps coming back around major tournaments. The World Cup brings every little visual habit into focus, and suddenly millions of people notice something players have been doing for years.

Are there people who think it is nonsense?

Absolutely.

Former England and Manchester United defender Gary Neville made it clear on his Stick to Football podcast in 2024 that he was not convinced by any of it.

“They have about 400 pairs of boots, they have everything made to measure,” he said. “I’m not having that Nike or a sponsor of a kit don’t make them a slightly bigger pair of socks.”

That scepticism is not limited to former players either. Lower down the football pyramid, the issue becomes less about sports science and more about practicality and cost.

At Northwood, who now play in the Combined Counties League Premier Division North, socks became such a recurring problem that the club decided players would have to pay for their own. Club secretary Alan Evans said in 2023 that he introduced the rule because of the expense involved.

That is the other side of the trend. At elite level, it can look like a harmless detail of player comfort or individuality. At lower levels, it can just look like damaged kit that needs replacing.

Why the trend is unlikely to disappear

Whether there is hard evidence behind it or not, footballers clearly feel attached to the habit. Some will do it because they genuinely believe it eases pressure on their calves. Others probably do it because it has become part of their matchday routine. And some, no doubt, just like the look and feel of it.

That is often how these things work in football. A small visual quirk becomes a preference, then a superstition, then a culture of its own. Once enough players start doing it, it spreads. Younger footballers copy established stars. The look becomes familiar. Before long, it is just part of the visual language of the modern game.

At a World Cup, where every detail is magnified, those little habits stand out even more. Fans planning football trips, following every match, or soaking up the wider tournament atmosphere will notice these things because the World Cup brings the sport’s strange little rituals into full view.

The holes in the socks may not decide any matches. They may not even do very much at all. But they have become one of those odd details that tells you something about modern footballers and the lengths they will go to in search of comfort, routine, and any possible edge.