February 7 – The AFC has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for AFC the Asian Cup China 2023 Licensing & Merchandising Programme.
The RFP also gives the option to a submit proposals for additional AFC national team and club competitions until the end of 2024.
The AFC is seeking a master licensee with the RFP being run through its commercial agency Football Marketing Asia (FMA).
The 24-team Asian Cup will be hosted by China from June 16 to July 16, having been shifted from its January time slot.
It is the first major international competition China has hosted in football. The AFC said the licensing partner will have “the exclusive opportunity to engage with the 121 million people across the 10 host cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi’an, Dalian, Qingdao, Xiamen and Suzhou) and a total of 489 million people across their wider provinces.”
Merchandise sales in China are currently holding up strongly with the Beijing Olympics reporting they are having to manufacture more product with many outlets having sold of product soon after the opening of the Winter Olympics.
The AFC rights available cover the whole of the AFC region with the exception of Japan where they will be granted on a co-exclusive basis.
The AFC has an official match ball and sports apparel sponsor with Kelme, as the Official Match Ball and Sports Apparel sponsor. That license includes replica balls but excludes non-performance balls.
Deadline to submit applications is March 4, 2022. FMA can be contacted at moc.a1714094312isamf1714094312@pfr1714094312.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1714094312labto1714094312ofdlr1714094312owedi1714094312sni@n1714094312osloh1714094312cin.l1714094312uap1714094312