Football Equipment Market

Football Equipment Market Analysis

The Football Equipment Market is expected to register a CAGR of 3.5% during the forecast period.

• The prominence of sports activities, owing to the health and wellness trends, the increasing influence of social media, celebrity endorsement, and the rise in the number of international sports events, encourage consumers to enter into sports activities like football. This increasing number of sports enthusiasts is expected to boost the demand for the football equipment market worldwide.
• For instance, according to SFIA Foundation, in 2021, the United States wholesale sales of football equipment, including protective football gear, footballs, and other accessories, amounted to just over USD 621.9 million, attaining a measurable growth compared to the previous year, 2020, which accounted for about USD 537.7 million. Among these, in 2021, the wholesale sales of protective football gear amounted to just over USD 390 million, making it the largest of the three subcategories.
• Additionally, rising interest and participation rates in outdoor sports, like football, owing to the consumer's growing awareness about their health and obesity problems, are supporting the market's growth. Football is one of the perfect sports to burn calories, lose body fat, and improve body composition. Heavily weighted people are choosing it to lose weight. Moreover, factors like frequent sports tournaments and national and international football leagues are raising awareness and interest among people to start playing football, which is raising the demand for its equipment and protective accessories at a faster pace. For instance, in December 2022, beIN SPORTS announced record-breaking cumulative viewership of 5.4 billion for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Such developments and the rise in the number of grassroots programs in schools, colleges, and clubs are some of the major factors driving the sales of football equipment globally.

Football Equipment Market Trends

Rising Sports Participation Rate and Inclination Toward Healthy Lifestyle

• In line with the athleisure trend, consumers increasingly seek sports equipment that includes footwear, gloves, guards, etc. Additionally, the continued shift toward more active lifestyles drives the demand for leisure activities and sports such as football, volleyball, running, and cycling worldwide.
• For instance, according to the National Family Health Survey, the number of female participants playing traditional American football at the high school level in the United States in 2021/2022 reached about 3,094, which has increased from 2,404 in 2018/2019.
• Additionally, the importance of sports activities, foremost for health reasons, the increasing influence of celebrity endorsement, and international sports events encourage consumers' involvement in various sports activities. For instance, in May 2021, Future Generali India Insurance Company Limited (FGII) started the third stage of its #HealthInsideOut campaign to maintain positive conversations about mental health. The series, according to the production company, involves athletes from sports like football, cricket, tennis, and shooting who come forward to relate their experiences with anxiety and depression.
• Moreover, increased government initiatives in various countries meant to improve sports participation have played a key role in driving the market in the last few years. For instance, the Government of Australia plans to invest USD 230 million in sports and physical activity initiatives over the next five years. Such developments and initiatives in the football and sports sector are expected to drive people to start playing football, thus boosting the market's growth.

Increasing Demand for Football Equipment from Asia-Pacific

• Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region in the global football equipment market. China, Japan, Australia, India, and South Korea are some of the top contributing countries in the region. Moreover, these countries have started hosting many international-level football tournaments, which, in turn, are expected to increase the popularity and demand for football equipment. For instance, India hosted the FIFA World Cup 2018 for under- 17 categories.
• In addition, there is a rise in the participation rate and government initiatives that are likely to boost the demand for the football equipment market in the region. For instance, according to the China Football Fan Behavior Insight White Paper 2022, in 2022, an estimated 200 million people in China were football enthusiasts. As the country's disposable income level rises, more fans would be willing to play football, thus increasing the demand for its equipment. Additionally, different governing football associations offer multi-faceted support to increase participation rates.
• For instance, according to the All-India Football Federation, in the fiscal year 2021, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) gained the highest share of income from grants of commercial rights, sponsorship, and football assessment fee, valued at INR 735.77 million. Other aids and fees formed a small share of roughly INR 157 million. This increase in the federation's income indicates how interested and enthusiastic people are in playing football.
• Few Indian states have as much money invested in football as Mizoram does. Mizoram, one of India's least populated states, has barely over a million people living there. But during the past ten years, Mizoram has produced several exceptional football players for both clubs and the national team, and the state government oversees residential academies in the region. 30 players from Mizoram were part of the Indian Super League in 2020-21, and it was 27 in the 2021-22 season. 100 more plied their trade in the I-League and various state leagues. This highly increasing trend of playing football among the youth population in the region is expected to boost the market's growth at a faster pace during the forecast period.

Football Equipment Industry Overview

The football equipment market is highly competitive. The market is dominated by players like Adidas Group, Nike Inc., Under Armour, PUMA SE, and New Balance. Companies are adopting competitive strategies by investing more to develop new generation technologies for the production of football equipment. Manufacturers are focusing on creating wider distribution channels in order to cope with the rising competition and increasing consumer demand for sports and leisure equipment globally. In addition, key players are focussing on online distribution channels for their online marketing and branding of their products in order to expand their geographic reach and increase their customer base. Moreover, leading manufacturers in the market are focusing on leveraging opportunities posed by the emerging markets of Asia-Pacific, like Thailand and India, in order to expand their revenue base.

Football Equipment Market Leaders

Football Equipment Market News

• In September 2021, ASICS launched the ASICS Ultrezza AI football boots, which are objectively one of the most comfortable boots, elevated further by the Japanese brand adding in FUZEGEL from their running line to add that extra step in comfort when running.
• In September 2021, PUMA launched the PUMA Ultra 1.2, which is one of the best speed boots in the market. The Puma Ultra 1.2 reignited the ultralight speed boot race, weighing in at an astonishing 165g, making it the lightest mass-production speed boot on the market of its time.
• In January 2021, New Balance partnered with the J1-League side. New Balance launched the FC Tokyo home and away shirts for the 2021 season. The launch comes under the brand's 'You Are Tokyo' campaign, which aims to celebrate Japanese football fans in the capital, uniting them through FC Tokyo.