YIWU, Zhejiang - With the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicking off across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Yiwu has once again demonstrated its dominance as the world's premier source of tournament merchandise. Industry estimates indicate that approximately 70% of all World Cup peripheral products - from jerseys and flags to soccer balls, cheering props, and commemorative items - are manufactured in Yiwu.
According to Yiwu Customs, sports goods and equipment exports reached 11.65 billion yuan in 2025, up 20.3% year-on-year. In the first two months of 2026 alone, sports goods exports hit 2.34 billion yuan, surging 38.5%. Exports to the three host nations - the US, Canada, and Mexico - totaled 550 million yuan, up 21.3%.
Q1 2026 saw sports goods exports reach 2.83 billion yuan, a 12% increase. Unlike previous tournaments where Yiwu manufacturers primarily engaged in low-cost OEM production, this year's merchants are shifting toward original designs and copyright licensing, with some companies securing official national team IP authorizations.
Source: Xinhua News Agency, Baijiahao, China Youth Daily, 2026
