It’s Team USA vs. Germany at high noon on Thursday — but the Americans already have the look of winners.
The Germans have gone with a uniform short hairstyle (boring!), but the American footballers are showcasing a melting pot of hot looks — mohawks, dreadlocks, man buns, fades, chrome domes and perma-parts.
Even if we don’t win the World Cup, we have the best cuts.
“They look amazing,” says Joseph Miano from the Serge Normant at John Frieda salon. “Out of any sport, soccer is definitely the most trendsetting in men’s hair. And the United States is definitely a standout.
We asked Miano and some of NYC’s top stylists to provide color commentary on Team USA’s mane men:
DREADS EFFECT
Midfielder Kyle Beckerman may have the most recognizable hair in the World Cup with those dreads, which he usually pulls back into a loose knot. “I’m loving Beckerman. He’s definitely my favorite,” says Miano. “Those long dreadlocks require you to make a real commitment. It’s a rarity.”
Mike Potter, the wig designer and makeup artist for “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” on Broadway, also digs the dreads. “Fabio meets Bob Marley,” he raves. “And he is pulling it off!”
Fellow dread-head Jermaine Jones keeps his twists shorter — and we love how they seem to fist-pump right along with him when he scores, like he did against Portugal on Sunday. “We love that look as well,” says Miano. “Even guys with short hair can pull that off with hair product, which is cool.”
LOCKS OF LOVE
Jared Leto’s got nothing on Graham Zusi’s man bun. “The man bun is definitely a staple with soccer players,” says Miano. “Men in general are taking more risks with their hair and allowing it to grow out now. I grew out my own hair after I saw the soccer players with long hair after the last World Cup.”
Midfielder Mix Diskerud tends to let his long mane tumble loose when he’s on the field. “His hair is always in motion. It’s very bouncy and buoyant and flippy,” says Potter. “It’s giving us a good show.”
TOP CHOP
Team USA’s youngest members have some of the roster’s most exciting hair. Defender DeAndre Yedlin, 20, is the poster boy of statement ‘dos, dying his high top different colors and shaving stripes on the sides of his head. Midfielder Julian Green, 19, has grown out his mohawk into a similar fade cut. “These are both really cool looks,” says Miano. “Shaving a part into the head or adding a line is a way to make a classic look a bit more edgy.”
It’s a new twist on the classic late-1980s/early-’90s flattop. “That definitely just made a comeback,” says Miles Elliot from Freemans Sporting Club barbershop on the Lower East Side. “Today’s barbers know how to make our lines a lot sharper and a lot crisper, so it looks even better.”
BEST BEARDS
Following in the footsteps of American icon Alexi Lalas, who grew out his signature ginger hair and beard in the 1994 World Cup, the 2014 team’s goalkeeper Tim Howard and defender DaMarcus Beasley make a strong defensive front with their studly facial follicles. “Facial hair is such a trendy thing right now,” says Miano. “And when you do less hair on top, and more on the face, it looks awesome.”
DISTINGUISHED DOMES
Howard and Beasley also top the list of beautiful bald heads, along with midfielder Michael Bradley and goalkeeper Brad Guzan. “The buzz cut is always a great look,” says Miano.
Elliot agrees. “Take it all off!” he says. “It’s just really simple and easygoing, especially for pro athletes who want to stay cool — and especially when playing in Brazil.”
GREAT DIVIDES
Forward Aron Johannsson and defender Geoff Cameron know how to play up the perfect part. “They never have a problem finding the part in their hair because it’s shaved in there permanently. This is very popular right now,” says Elliot. “Aron has a very close undercut, where you buzz off the sides very close with a nice fade, so one part of the hair kind of flaps over and gives him nice definition.
Potter is a fan of that side sweep. “This dude looks like he styles his hair while he’s doing sprints, running sideways. It’s very hipster,” he says. “And Geoff can probably get a Gillette campaign or something.”
CREWS CONTROL
Team captain Clint Dempsey and defender John Brooks lead the squad with their neat, no-nonsense crew cuts. “This is a classic,” says Miano. “It looks good on everyone, and it’s easy to maintain and to grow out, as well.”
The simple cut also lets you know that these guys mean business. “John Brooks is playing a good game. He’s not proving anything on the field with a crazy hairdo,” says Potter. “I’m down with that.”
TRESSED IN SHOW
How do the other World Cup contenders stack up? Here are the top 10 teams with the hottest hair — after the Americans, of course.
Brazil: The host team has it all: the rich ringlets on David Luiz, the blond fringe framing Neymar’s face, and the Afros on Dante, Willian and Marcelo.
Ghana: All eyes are on forward Asamoah Gyan’s mohawk and the yellow No. 3 shaved on the side of his head. We also get a kick out of Kevin-Prince Boateng’s up-sweep. But if these hair apparents move on to the next round on Thursday, it will come at the expense of the Americans.
Belgium: This country scores with Marouane Fellaini’s corona of hair, as well as the Afro on Axel Witsel and Dries Martens’ brown pompadour and goatee. The team will likely move on to the next round on Thursday.
Japan: Bow down to Yasuhito Endo’s Justin Bieber-inspired mop and Keisuke Honda’s bleach-blond spikes. But they weren’t enough to save their team, which failed to leave the group round.
England: The Brits also lost in group, but the team boasted Raheem Sterling’s Kid ‘n Play high top, Daniel Sturridge’s crown of curls and, of course, Ben Foster’s wavy brown mane.
Mexico: Goalie Guillermo Ochoa sports show-stopping curls as he guards the net, while midfielder Carlos Peña grows his ringlets out into a mullet. Mexico made it to the knockout round, so keep your eyes on these heads.
Italy: The now-vanquished Italian stallions showcased everything from striking mohawks on Mario Balotelli and Stephan El Shaarawy to the wavy brown mop and full beard on Andrea Pirlo.
Portugal: Raul Meireles’ mohawk and full beard and pretty boy Cristiano Ronaldo’s Zorro-inspired zigzag shaved into the side of his head have given this team a leg up against everyone but the Americans.
France: We say “oui!” to Bacary Sagna’s long bleached braids pulled back into a twist, Paul Pogba’s curly blond mohawk and Olivier Giroud’s brown sweep.
Chile: The Chileans up the ante on mohawks with Arturo Vidal’s shaved parallel stripes and Eduardo Vargas’ hair swept to the side. Watch for them in the next round.
