Merchants in Yiwu City, east China's Zhejiang Province, are gearing up for global opportunities by designing and producing sports products and accessories targeting hosting countries for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Yiwu International Trade Market, known as the world's largest wholesale center for small commodities, is already seeing a surge in activity as businesses prepare to meet international demand sparked by the event.
A football production company in Yiwu is seeing increased demand as excitement builds for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Last week, they dispatched a batch of sample footballs to customers, and their production line is now operating at full capacity to fulfill a major order from a Central American client.
"We have been cooperating with this customer for six years. Before the World Cup, they placed a big order, demanding for 17,000 footballs. The order is expected [to be delivered] in mid-July," said Wu Xiaoming, director of the company.
A jersey seller in Yiwu is also preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Though the finalist teams are yet to be announced, they have already created diverse jersey designs for the hosting nations and other prominent teams, providing a catalog for buyers to choose from.
As the event spans three countries, it offers new opportunities to tap into wider markets. Yiwu merchants anticipate that as World Cup qualifiers are confirmed between September and December this year, the demand for sports merchandise will continue to grow, likely peaking through late 2026
Yiwu taps global markets with 2026 FIFA World Cup jerseys, accessories
