Football Market

Football Market Size:

The global football market size reached US$ 3.3 Billion in 2023. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach US$ 4.6 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 3.6% during 2024-2032. The market is driven by significant advancements in digitization, increasing sponsorships and partnerships between brands and clubs, and growing e-sports and gaming sector through numerous platforms such as FIFA, and Football PES.

Football Market Analysis:

• Major Market Drivers: The popularity of football is skyrocketing as the most-watched and participated sport in the world. As a result, the demand for all types of football-related products and services are contributing to the market growth. Also, boost in broadcasting rights deals, sponsorships, and endorsement agreements. These activities prop up more revenue for the clubs and organizations and create new opportunities due to the growth in fanbases.
• Key Market Trends: The development of digital platforms and social networks completely reshapes how fans interact with the sport which presents new opportunities for marketing and revenue. The upbringing of women’s football as an independent professional branch. This sector has been experiencing rapid growth in terms of investment, viewership, and participation.
• Geographical Trends: Europe stands as the epicenter of the football, home to some of the most prestigious leagues, clubs, and a vast fan base. Countries like the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, and Germany have deeply rooted football cultures. Besides, there is a shift of football’s center of gravity toward developing markets, notably China, India, and Africa. This has prompted more investment from global brands and clubs.
• Competitive Landscape: Some of the major market players in the football industry include Adidas AG, Baden Sports Inc., Decathlon Sports India Pvt Ltd. (Decathlon S.A.), Formative Sport, Franklin Sports Inc., Nike Inc., Nivia Sports, Puma SE (Artemis S.A), Select Sport A/S, UMBRO (Iconix Brand Group), Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Amer Sports), among many others.
• Challenges and Opportunities: The financial burden of the COVID-19 pandemic on clubs, leagues, and associated industries, necessitates creative solutions to generate more revenues and decrease costs. Besides this, opportunities include maximizing technology assistance in fan involvement and exploring new markets and inclusivity initiatives to attract new demographics to the game and boost income.

Football Market Trends:

Growing Digitalization:

The digital revolution has reshaped the landscape of football consumption, with clubs leveraging digital platforms, social media, and content creation to engage with fans worldwide. In today's interconnected world, football clubs recognize the immense potential of digital channels to expand their reach, build brand loyalty, and monetize fan engagement. Nowadays, the football industry involves various key players investing in technologies to stay ahead of the competition. According to PwC's sports industry outlook for 2023, significant transformations are underway in sports sponsorship. Among these, the emergence of new media platforms is notably guiding football sponsorship more than any other aspect. Also, the surge in online streaming and video platforms, along with the easy availability of cost-effective smartphones, has enabled football to extend its influence beyond conventional fan demographics. Sponsors are using this shift to access new markets, pinpoint particular fan segments, and assess the effectiveness of their sponsorship arrangements. For instance, In March 2021, Sky Sports secured a three-year agreement, valued in the multimillions, to broadcast English Women’s Super League matches, as stated by the Football Association (FA) in a press release which hailed as a milestone in women’s sports broadcasting.

Increasing Sponsorship and Partnerships:

The allure of football as a global phenomenon has led to a surge in sponsorship and partnerships between brands and clubs, driven by the desire to enhance brand visibility and connect with a vast audience of passionate fans. Football sponsorship offers brands unparalleled exposure and engagement opportunities, allowing them to align their brand values with the passion and emotion associated with the sport. Currently, the football market values key players investing in sponsorship and partnership to stay ahead of the competition. For instance, In August 2022, Nike disclosed a multi-year collaboration with The Football Association (FA), establishing itself as the Official Ball Supplier for the Barclays Women’s Championship (BWC), Barclays Women’s Super League (BWSL), and The FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup, where Nike Flight ball technology will make its debut.

Rising E-sports and Gaming Sector:

The convergence of football and gaming represents a burgeoning trend in the sports industry, with clubs increasingly embracing e-sports and gaming to engage with younger audiences and diversify their revenue streams. Recognizing the immense popularity of gaming among fans, football clubs have established e-sports teams, partnered with gaming organizations, and organized gaming tournaments to tap into the lucrative gaming market. Through platforms including FIFA and eFootball PES, fans can experience the thrill of virtual football and compete against players globally, blurring the lines between the digital and physical realms of the sport. Besides, the football market growth is also attributed to leading players investing in the gaming sector to stay ahead of the competition. For example, In June 2023, One Future Football (1FF) inaugurated a global digital football league, marking a historic milestone in the realm of sports which witnessed the participation of more than 250 players representing 12 clubs from various corners of the globe. Notably, all teams and athletes have been exclusively crafted for the virtual platform, underscoring the innovative nature of this event.Top of Form Moreover, in March 2020, Adidas, FIFA, and Google collaborated to create a smart football boot technology that enhances FIFA rating by playing in real-life by users.

Football Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with forecasts at the global, regional, and country levels for 2024-2032. Our report has categorized the market based on type, size, and distribution channel.

Breakup by Type:

• Training Football
• Match Football
• Others
   

Training football accounts for the majority of the market share

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the type. This includes training football, match football, and others. According to the report, training football represented the largest segment.

Training football is the largest segment that has garnered significant attention and revenue despite having fewer subgroups. It serves various stakeholders, including amateur or professional players, coaches, and training facilities. Training football is particularly designed to endure vigorous training thus having a higher level of performance sustainability. Moreover, leading players are investing in the market to stay ahead of the competition which will positively impact the football market forecast in coming years. For example, In October 2020, the FIFA Quality and FIFA Quality Pro labels underwent a rebranding and redesign with the introduction of the new FIFA Basic standard. It aims to facilitate the recognition of products, technologies, and surfaces that provide feasible and cost-effective options for grassroots-level and higher-tier entities with constrained budgets. Presently, these three FIFA quality designations (Basic, Quality, and Quality Pro) continue to serve as certifications for football products that have undergone testing.

Breakup by Size:

• Size 1
• Size 2
• Size 3
• Size 4
• Size 5
   

A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the size have also been provided in the report. This includes size 1, size 2, size 3, size 4, and size 5.

Size 1 footballs are specially structured for skills development and mini-games, suitable for young children's indoor play, and Size 2 footballs are fabricated for practice sessions or younger players in organized leagues. Moreover, Size 3 footballs are distributed in youth leagues, astonishing a good balance between weight and size for skill development and match play. Besides this, Size 4 footballs provision to youth and adult recreational leagues, designed for practice and league matches, ensuring durability and performance. Along with this, Size 5 footballs are used in professional matches and high-level competitions, intended for optimal performance on full-size pitches, thus expanding the football market scope. Nowadays, various key players are investing in advanced technologies to stay ahead of the competition. For example, In November, Adidas disclosed the official match ball for UEFA EURO 2024. Named FUSSBALLLIEBE, it introduces connected ball technology to the UEFA European Football Championship for the first time. It is engineered with a PRECISIONSHELL structure, and promises enhanced accuracy during play, making it one of the most technologically advanced footballs yet.

Breakup by Distribution Channel:

• Online 
• Offline
   

Offline represents the leading market segment 

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the distribution channel. This includes online, and offline. According to the report, offline represented the largest segment.

The primary offline channels are brick-and-mortar shops, sports-specific retailers, and pop-up shops at stadiums and sports arenas which offer clients the ability to interact with the items in physical space and receive tailored guidance from well-informed personnel. Additionally, the offline segment appeals to a wider consumer base, including customers who prefer physical stores and areas with inadequate access to the Internet, thus creating a positive football market outlook.

Breakup by Regional:

• North America
  • United States
  • Canada
• Asia-Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Australia
  • Indonesia
  • Others
• Europe
  • Germany
  • France
  • United Kingdom
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Russia
  • Others
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Others
• Middle East and Africa
   

Europe leads the market, accounting for the largest football market share

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include North America (the United States and Canada); Europe (Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia, and others); Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, and others); Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and others); and the Middle East and Africa. According to the report, Europe represents the largest regional market for football.

Europe is the largest segment driven by its diverse football culture. Europe has leagues such as the English Premier League, La Liga in Spain, Serie A in Italy, and the Bundesliga in Germany. Fans across Europe prove to be one of the largest numbers of fans in the world of football. Moreover, millions of fans worldwide watch the game in different lines of games. Europe has played a pivotal role in the creation of the sport. As a result, the football market outlook involves various key players investing in advanced technologies to stay ahead of the competition. For example, In June 2022, PUMA, a leading global sports brand, and Lega Serie disclosed a fresh long-term collaboration. Commencing from the 2022/23 football season, PUMA assumes the role of the league's official technical partner and will supply the official match balls for all Serie A, Primavera 1, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa, and eSerie A matches.

Competitive Landscape:

• The market research report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape in the market. Detailed profiles of all major companies have also been provided. Some of the major market players in the football industry include Adidas AG, Baden Sports Inc., Decathlon Sports India Pvt Ltd. (Decathlon S.A.), Formative Sport, Franklin Sports Inc., Nike Inc., Nivia Sports, Puma SE (Artemis S.A), Select Sport A/S, UMBRO (Iconix Brand Group), Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Amer Sports).
  
  (Please note that this is only a partial list of the key players, and the complete list is provided in the report.)
   
• At present, key players are transforming and scaling to cater to the changing consumers. Online retailers, such as Amazon and Fanatics, have revolutionized the game by offering football fans access to virtually all kinds of kit merchandise in just a few clicks. By exploring artificial intelligence in recommendation and simulation, these platforms enhance the shopping experience significantly. The market also includes various key players investing in advanced technologies to stay ahead of the competition. For example, in November 2023, Nike and Football Australia disclosed a contract extension spanning a decade, extending their enduring partnership into its third decade which marks the lengthiest federation and club collaboration for Nike in Australia.

Football Market News:

• February 2024: Nike pledges $3.2 million to support football initiatives for Indigenous youth, and native Americans forming collaborations with NFL clubs through substantial investment of $3.2 million over five years. Nike aims to allocate $20,000 annually to each NFL club which will facilitate partnerships with local Indigenous nonprofits and other community organizations to support football-centric programs tailored for youth within Native American communities.

Football Market Report Scope:

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s industry report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the football market from 2018-2032.
• The research report provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the global football market.
• The study maps the leading, as well as the fastest-growing, regional markets. It further enables stakeholders to identify the key country-level markets within each region.
• Porter's five forces analysis assists stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the football industry and its attractiveness.
• The competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides insight into the current positions of key players in the market.