World Cup Fever Heats Up: Yiwu's Intelligent Textile Manufacturing Thrives as Global Demand Surges for Best-Selling Fan Jerseys

In the sports equipment section of District 3 at the Yiwu International Trade Market, there is a merchant specializing in football fan jerseys. During the Qatar World Cup four years ago, the shop owner successfully predicted that Argentina would win the championship by observing the trend of orders for various participating teams’ jerseys, particularly the surge in re-orders before the matches. This served as a remarkably clever synergy between the sports economy and the Yiwu market.

In the sporting goods market, many business owners told reporters that although the World Cup is still nearly 5 months away, orders have been coming in since June or July last year, turning the traditional "off-season" into a bustling period.

A store selling fan jerseys has seen its highest sales volume so far with the Mexican team, one of the host countries, with approximately 300,000 jerseys shipped. Besides the host nation, traditionally strong teams such as Brazil, Argentina, and Spain are also selling well. For example, around 200,000 Argentina fan jerseys have been shipped.

Behind the continuously soaring sales, merchants have put in a lot of thought. For example, for the Brazilian national team's fan jersey, the boss went to great lengths to understand Brazilian culture, geography, and even history for its design. He even started playing football himself, becoming a true fan.

This garment uses a yellow primary color and incorporates five stars to represent Brazil's five World Cup titles. It also features the word "Samba" printed on it, giving the garment both a sports element and a fusion of "local culture."

Unlike previous years, this year's designs are richer and cater to a wider range of wearers, with each fan jersey now offering child and pet versions. These styles are particularly popular with overseas clients, and many have expressed their intention to place orders upon seeing the samples.

Beyond focusing on product design, merchants are also paying particular attention to protecting their creative ideas. Everyone realizes that only by possessing independent intellectual property rights can they truly gain a foothold in the international market. Since last year, many businesses have applied for design and appearance patents.