With the 31st less than a week away, time is running out to put together a Halloween costume. Whether you’re going to a party, walking down the block with kids, or joining in the spooky and kooky, these costume ideas inspired by the sports you know and love are expected to pop up a lot this weekend.
According to Irena Ducic, a senior content editor for the sports betting site AskGamblers, some of the “most memorable sports moments from 2026” have inspired the list.
Halloween Costumes For The Guys
Ted Lasso
Season 4 of Ted Lasso premiered earlier this year, and the character will be making a comeback, and it’s a pretty simple costume to scramble together. A Club tracksuit or quarter-zip, khakis, sneakers, a whistle, and the iconic mustache are all it takes. Other props from the show, like the “believe” sign or a soccer ball, would be welcome additions.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi helped lead his team to victory in the 2022 World Cup, but unfortunately, Argentina fell just short of the title this year. After the loss, Messi announced that he would be retiring from the national team. A number 10 Argentina jersey and athletic shorts will be enough to pass as this memorable footballer. Again, a soccer ball is always welcome.
David Beckham (and his drink)
Continuing the soccer trend, Ducic has listed David Beckham among this year’s costume choices. During the World Cup game between Scotland and Brazil, Beckham was seen in the stands with a large glass of red wine, sparking a series of memes. This look has two main options. The dressed-down David Beckham jersey, similar to Messi’s, or the World Cup look: sunglasses, button-down shirt, chinos, and a large wine glass.
Memorable Moments In Women’s Sports
Serena Williams
One of the greatest of all time, Serena Williams returned to the sport after four years. She chose to step back to focus on family and other priorities, but at 44 she returned to the court just as fired up as before. Williams has worn it all, from jean skort, to tutus, to pink leopard print, but the easiest to find for anyone who frequents the courts would be tennis whites and a tennis racket or racket bag.
Alysa Liu
Who can forget Olympic Gold Medalist Alysa Liu? Liu became the first American to win gold in figure skating in 24 years, and her look immediately became iconic. Her gold skating dress is perhaps the most memorable, paired with tights and white skates or boots and, of course, a gold medal. A bit harder to find, but a striped wig and a faux “smiley” piercing would complete the look.
Knicks City Dancer
After more than half a century, the New York Knicks ended the drought and won the NBA Championship. The Knicks City Dancers are the real fixture in the NBA. The Knicks City Dancers perform at every timeout, during halftime shows, interact with fans, and were seen dancing down the streets of New York City during the parade. In an orange-and-blue two-piece, white sneakers, a high ponytail, and, of course, the Knicks logo, anyone can recreate this look.
Don’t Worry Couples, You’re Also Covered
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift
The it couple of the NFL, Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce and international music superstar Taylor Swift, were married this summer at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. A fun one for both people involved, Swift’s costume needs a sparkly bodysuit like the one she wears at her performances, a blonde wig, and a mic. Kelce needs his 87 Chiefs Jersey and football helmet to cap off his look.
If Sports Aren’t Your Thing
Not everyone is a sports fan, so here are some simple non-sports ideas as well. As Men’s Journal has previously covered Google’s Frightgeist has a list of the most searched costume ideas. The top search is Buddy the Unicorn, the plush monstrosity from the horror film Buddy, but that is probably not attainable on such short notice. Number Two is NeeDoh, the viral squishy toy that many people are DIY-ing this year.
Sadly, this year saw the passing of many legends, but some with more identifiable looks are trending big. Dolly Parton with her big blonde bouffant, Tim Curry in Rocky Horror as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, and Oliver Tree with his signature bowl cut are all big options. CNN advises people to stay lighthearted with some of the touchier subjects and to honor those stars who have died.
Also high on the list are Nikki from Obsession and Agamemnon from The Odyssey, both characters from massive blockbusters this summer. The media is always a good place to draw inspiration from, as many of the costumes on the list are from popular films, television shows, and video games from the past year.
If push comes to shove, a sheet with holes for a ghost or plastic fangs on a vampire are always solid costumes.
