BusinessJuly 19, 2026

How the 2026 World Cup Is Helping Adidas Reach U.S. Buyers

Key Vocabulary

visibility/ˌvɪzəˈbɪləti/
how much the brand or product is seen by people
"The visibility of the brand increased during the event."
partner/ˈpɑːrtnər/
a group or company that works together with another
"Adidas is a partner of FIFA."
bookings/ˈbʊkɪŋz/
orders or sales reservations recorded for future delivery
"The company reported large bookings for shirts."
jerseys/ˈdʒɜːrziz/
team shirts fans wear to show support
"Fans wore jerseys at the watch party."

Listening

How the 2026 World Cup Is Helping Adidas Reach U.S. Buyers

Adidas has gained huge visibility during the 2026 FIFA World Cup while many players and staff wear its kits. The company is the official FIFA partner and has partnered with numerous national federations; it also supplies all Major League Soccer teams. In the first quarter the company took about €250 million in bookings for World Cup products and this level of demand is expected to continue in the following quarter. Bloomberg Intelligence has estimated that the tournament could generate roughly €1.2 billion in sales for Adidas, which has strengthened investor confidence.

Demand has been particularly strong for the jerseys of teams such as Mexico, Germany and Argentina, and some items have sold quickly online and in stores. Adidas has been using local events and fashion collaborations to build interest in the United States, and wholesale and retail channels have been stocked to meet demand. Therefore, while the market is still volatile, the World Cup period has been a clear growth opportunity for the brand. Retailers have reported higher foot traffic, and Adidas has maintained full-price selling in several markets globally.

180 words

Quiz

1. What partner role does Adidas have with FIFA?
2. How much did the company take in bookings in the first quarter?
3. Which teams are named as having strong jersey demand?

Reading Practice

Read the article from the Listening section aloud. Your AI teacher will give you pronunciation feedback.

Discussion

1

Do you follow football (soccer) events while shopping? How does sport influence your buying?

2

Have you ever bought an item because a celebrity or athlete used it? What was it?

3

What do you think about brands using big events to sell more products?

4

Would you travel to a city to attend a brand event or pop-up shop? Why or why not?

This content is for English learning purposes and does not guarantee factual accuracy.