Striker Kylian Mbappé during the France team’s defeat against Argentina in the World Cup final on December 18, 2022 in Doha. The American brand Nike has renewed its equipment supplier contract with the French Football Federation until 2034 (AFP/Archives/Odd ANDERSEN)
The French Football Federation and Nike announced on Tuesday the renewal of their partnership that began in 2011, a very nice blow for the FFF and a new success for the American equipment manufacturer, which recently stole the German selection from its main competitor, Adidas.
The comma brand will therefore continue to dress the French teams and keeps the Blues, double world champions, in its prestigious portfolio, which also includes Brazil, England and Portugal.
But this agreement, which will run between 2026 and 2034, should also be a great financial transaction for the FFF. If its amount has not been communicated, it would be higher than that concluded 13 years ago and which brings in between 40 and 50 million annually for “3F”, according to several media.
“I made a commitment to ensure the sustainability of the FFF, in all its dimensions: societal, diversity, development of high-level practice, women’s football and amateur football. This partnership with Nike, with whom we we share a common vision and objectives, allows us to give ourselves the means to actively contribute to it, at least for the next decade”, indicated the boss of the FFF Philippe Diallo at the end of the executive committee of the body which validated the contract.
Samir Nasri with a Nike chasuble during Blues training on May 18, 2012 in Clairefontaine, before the Euro organized in Ukraine and Poland (AFP/Archives/FRANCK FIFE)
“The renewal of our partnership and the agreement reached position the FFF among the very leading sports organizations in the world,” he added.
The successor of Noël Le Graët, who was the great architect of the arrival of Nike during his presidency, thus scores points with this great commercial victory, just before the election at the head of the body scheduled for the end of the year . The manager skillfully played on the rivalry between Nike and Adidas, who are waging a fierce battle in the football market.
– Shock in Germany –
Before joining France again, Nike had already struck very hard at the end of March by dethroning Adidas to become the equipment supplier of the German Federation (DFB) from 2026 until 2034. A real shock across the Rhine where the brand with the three stripes has been linked to the epic of the Mannschaft since 1954.
According to the German daily Handelsblatt, Nike has committed to paying at least 100 million euros per year to the German Football Federation for eight years, double what Adidas currently pays.
Adidas boss Bjoern Gulden during an interview with AFP on April 18, 2024 in Paris. The amount paid by Nike to secure the contract with the German Federation is “inexplicable”, he said (AFP/Archives/Emmanuel DUNAND)
In an interview with AFP after this setback, Bjørn Gulden, the boss of Adidas, considered the sum promised by Nike to the DFB “inexplicable”, adding that he would make an offer at “an appropriate price” to try to once again become France’s equipment supplier. But he also warned that he would not go beyond a certain limit in the call for tenders launched by the FFF.
In addition to the equipment of all the French selections, the new partnership established between the FFF and Nike will also include “a specific component dedicated to amateur football and referees”, specified the federation.
“In 15 years of partnership between Nike and the FFF, we are proud of what we have accomplished together, reacted the American brand. We look forward to continuing our partnership to serve as a catalyst for growth and investment in the amateur football in France, accelerating the growth of women’s football at all levels, and further amplifying the FFF as an international icon of performance and style.”
© 2024 AFP
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