July 21 – With the Women’s World Cup now into its second day, the governing body is reporting that it has sold all its sponsorship packages.
Quite how you can be sold out in terms of sponsorship – surely sponsorship and advertising can be added to almost infinitely, especially in terms of regional and national sponsorship – FIFA has delivered a rounded commercial programme even though broadcast sales are variously estimated to $200 million short of budget.
For WWC2023 there are five global FIFA Partners, two global women’s football partners, nine global FIFA Women’s World Cup sponsors and 14 FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament supporters.
FIFA said its commercial partnership programme has grown from 12 (six partners and six host country supporters) for the Women’s World Cup 2019 to 30 this year.
Hublot, as official timekeeper, and Itaú as official bank supporter for Brazil, are the latest two sponsors to be announced.
This will Hublot’s third Women’s World Cup, having been involved in 2019 and 2015 as a branded licensee, and will equip all 107 match officials throughout the tournament with the Hublot Big Bang e Gen 3, the watchmaker’s luxury smartwatch that has the flagship Big Bang watch design and the latest connected technology.
FIFA’s Chief Business Officer Romy Gai said: “The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 is set to be the biggest stand‑alone women’s event in history, and it’s truly incredible to see our fantastic partners and supporters engage with the potential of this unique event.
“Together, we all share a commitment to developing women’s football at every level, and everyone involved has built extensive plans to spread the word, develop the game and shine a light on the beautiful game.”
FIFA has not given a total value for its sponsorship programme, though it does indicate the money will be ploughed back into supporting the women’s game.
“At the heart of everything we do around the FIFA Women’s World Cup is the development of women’s football around the world and I’m blown away by the depth and breadth of support that our Commercial Affiliates from all over the world have offered to us for this tournament,” said FIFA’s Chief Women’s Football Officer Sarai Bareman.
“At every level, they will help us grow the game and give more women and girls the opportunity to play.”
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