2026 is gearing up to be a great year in promo, but one event in particular is sure to score goals for promotional product distributors. FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) projects record revenue for 2026, with North America expected to deliver the largest merch footprint in history. The global football merchandise market is valued at $14–15B annually, growing toward $27B+ by 2034. The good news for promo distributors? Only a small fraction of all World Cup-related merchandise is officially licensed. The majority of sales in North America will come from custom-branded corporate, retail, and community-based merchandise.
What Makes This Tournament Different
1. It’s the first 48-team World Cup
2. It will include 16 major North American cities
3.Most brands will NOT use licensed marks. Instead, they will focus on:
- Country color themes
- Soccer-inspired graphics
- Event-themed promotional bundles
Corporate companies, restaurants, local communities, and many other industries, are going to be looking for ways to stand out this summer and share the excitement.
Some Marketing Initiatives Will Include:
- Custom merch for watch parties and tailgates
- Branded kits for employee engagement
- Giveaways for retail promotions
- Influencer mailers and unboxing experiences
- Press kits
- Creator mailers
- Gifting bundles
- Custom packaging
- Limited-edition collectible merch
- High-end lifestyle items
- City and country-pride products for local events
- Large-scale activation kits for bars, stadiums, and fan zones
- Created turnkey “World Cup Fan Shop” Company Stores
How to a Score a Goal
Retail, hospitality & tourism will spend more than any previous US event. The projected impact for 2026 will attract 5 million in-stadium attendees plus tens of millions of visitors. That means you could leave money on the field.
Here our list of brand activation events that your business can supply:
- Custom merch for watch parties and tailgates
- Branded kits for employee engagement
- Giveaways for retail promotions
- Local watch parties and community soccer clubs
- Themed items for influencer campaigns
- City and country-pride products for local events
- Large-scale activation kits for bars, stadiums
Our List of VIP supplier products that are ready to help you score big summer 2026.
T-shirts & fanwear apparel
Scarves (the No. 1 global soccer accessory)
Hats
Drinkware (stadium cups, tumblers, beer steins)
Flags, banners & Event Signage
Mini soccer balls
Tailgate kits
Watch-party kits (noise makers, clappers, decorations)
Stadium-approved bags
Tech giveaways (portable chargers, Bluetooth speakers)
Branded blankets & seat cushions
Sunglasses & outdoor accessories
Conclusion
The first match kicks off in Mexico City on June 11th, 2026, and the first US-based match will follow on the 12th in Los Angeles. Now is the perfect time to pitch a pitch-side promotion to clients. It will give them plenty of time to get the ball rolling on any events, merchandise tie-ins, or promotions they want to run.