Football fandom is no longer limited to jerseys or face paint. As FIFA fever grips fans, many are taking their love for the sport a step further by wearing it on their nails. From national flags and team colours to tiny footballs, jersey numbers and trophy motifs, football-inspired nail art is emerging as a stylish way for Mumbaikars to show their support.Nail artists say that while sports-inspired nail art has always had a niche following, the excitement around FIFA has led to a noticeable rise in requests for customised football-themed designs.
‘Sports-inspired nail art is becoming popular’Studio Nails founder Anisha Mulchandani recently created multiple custom FIFA-inspired nail sets for Nora Fatehi’s FIFA opening dance performance.According to Anisha, the trend isn’t limited to celebrities. “Sports-inspired nail art is becoming increasingly popular, especially during global events like FIFA. Fans love incorporating their favourite team’s colours, football motifs and sporty elements into their nail art. Whether it’s FIFA, concerts or festivals, people want their manicures to reflect what they’re passionate about.”Mansi Bhanushali and Rajvi Bangari, founders of the Riovi salon, say football enthusiasts always opt for FIFA-inspired manicures during the tournament. Mansi adds, “Some clients prefer the convenience of home appointments so they can get ready without disrupting their match-day plans. Whenever possible, we try our best to accommodate such requests.” ‘It’s our way of showing support to our teams’Namrata Sali, a banking professional, who recently got Argentina-inspired nail art featuring the number 10, says, “I’m a huge Messi fan. Along with Argentina’s signature blue and white, I asked my nail technician to add touches of gold for a bit of glamour. The final design turned out beautifully. It’s such a fun and unique way to show support for my team.”Nidhi Kamdar, a college student, adds, “I chose Norway’s iconic red, blue and white colours along with tiny football motifs on a couple of nails. It’s such a fun conversation starter, and so many people have asked me about it while watching matches at screenings. It’s my way of wearing my fandom.”
Nail art has evolved beyond beautyAdhikansh H Aroraa, founder of Bombay Nail Company, says football-inspired manicures have become a talking point among clients. She adds, “It shows that nail art has evolved beyond beauty — it’s become a way to celebrate passions, moments and individuality. It feels good to see more people experimenting and being playful with nails.”For many fans, a themed manicure has become part of the match-day ritual — just like picking the right jersey or gathering friends to watch the game.FIFA-inspired nail trends this seasonTeam colours recreated as French tips or ombré nailsNational flags painted as accent nailsMini footballs, jerseys and goalpost motifsTrophy-inspired metallic nail artPlayer jersey numbers and initialsChrome finishes in gold and silver for a championship-inspired look
