Adidas shares plunge after hike in World Cup marketing spend Sport Business Adidas shares sank this morning after the sportswear behemoth missed quarterly profit expectations amid a hike in World Cup marketing spend. Shares in the German firm opened more than 15 per cent down after missing second quarter profit expectations. The dent came despite revenues rising 14 per cent to £5.7bn but the firm maintained its [...]
World Cup sponsors could pay price if Infantino’s Fifa sell-off goes ahead Sport Business It’s not just match-going football fans who fear the financial ramifications of Fifa’s sell-off of commercial rights; World Cup sponsors could also find themselves paying more or getting less for their money, experts have warned. Sponsors currently contribute around a quarter of Fifa’s $15bn income over a four-year cycle and include some of the biggest [...]
Fifa World Cup brand value trebles to £4bn thanks to sponsorship and media rights Sport Business The Fifa World Cup brand has grown in value to over $5bn after more than trebling in value in recent years, according to a new industry report. Consultancy Brand Finance estimates the World Cup brand is now worth $5.2bn (£4bn) – a 244 per cent increase on its value when the 2010 tournament was held [...]
Adidas, Calvin Klein and Uniqlo ads banned for greenwashing June 24, 2026 Fashion giants Adidas, Calvin Klein and Uniqlo have been rapped as part of a major probe into corporate greenwashing in adverts. Each of the retailers has had online adverts banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for using the term “recycled” in a misleading way. The bans came as part of a major crackdown by [...]
Adidas, Burberry and so much Beckham: The six best 2026 World Cup ad campaigns June 13, 2026 An unnecessarily serious review of the best ads around the 2026 World Cup, including campaigns by Adidas, Nike and Burberry, as picked by amateur footballer and professional creative Harriet Russell-Vick. Football ads in 2026 finally remembered a crucial detail: football is supposed to be fun. After years of ultra-serious slow-motion shots of rain hitting crossbars [...]
Real Madrid underline financial power by signing new €1bn kit deal with Adidas June 10, 2026 Real Madrid have received a financial boost after signing a new eight-year kit deal with Adidas that is believed to be the most lucrative in world football. The 15-time European champions and the German sportswear behemoth have opted for an early extension to their partnership, which will now run until at least 2034. Real Madrid’s [...]
Fifa boss Infantino pips PSG chief Al-Khelaifi in Morning Wire Football Power List June 4, 2026 Fifa president Gianni Infantino has topped the inaugural Morning Wire Football Power List, a week before the biggest ever men’s World Cup is due to kick off. The ranking, compiled with a 16-strong panel of expert judges drawn from across the sports industry, is designed to be a snapshot of who controls the most popular [...]
Morning Wire Football Power List 2026: Who really runs the world’s most popular sport? June 4, 2026 The Morning Wire Football Power List seeks to answer a simple question: ahead of the 2026 World Cup, who really runs the planet’s favourite sport? To answer it, we assembled a panel of experts from across the sports industry and picked their brains for nominations and, ultimately, a top 25. You can read more about [...]
I’m a Manchester United fan and marketing expert but Arsenal are cool May 25, 2026 Arsenal’s long-awaited success on and off the field has been earned with smart, patient planning, says Pitch founder (and Man Utd supporter) Henry Chappell. As a Manchester United fan since before the Fergie years, Arsenal’s march to Premier League glory and a Champions League final is a tough watch. And it’s just as hard to [...]
Arsenal Champions League final run banks £123m and sets up record revenue May 6, 2026 Arsenal’s run to the Champions League final has already banked the club more than £120m in prize money, paving the way for their highest-earning season ever. The north Londoners reached the final for only the second time in their history in Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid, which clinched a 2-1 aggregate victory. And the [...]