Ningbo firms score early wins ahead of 2026 World Cup

World Cup-themed products. [Photo/Tide News]

With less than two months to go before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in North America, businesses in Ningbo's Yinzhou district have already entered full competition mode. Local exporters are racing ahead with booming orders tied to football-themed merchandise.

Containers filled with World Cup-themed water bottles rolled out from the workshop of Ningbo Elink Import & Export on April 17, bound for the United States. These trendy items have quickly become a summer hit across European and American markets. The company's innovative "cheering water bottles" have already surpassed 100,000 units in sales, with demand continuing to grow.

Beyond simple manufacturing, Elink is focusing on brand-building. Supported by an in-house design team and AI-powered development, the company now releases new designs weekly.

For companies like Ningbo Aikewei Technology, success lies in precision. Specializing in ceramic cups, tumblers, and luggage tags, the firm works with top European football clubs and North American sports agencies. Matching exact team colors — based on precise Pantone codes — requires multiple rounds of sampling to achieve flawless visual results under stadium lighting.

This surge reflects a broader trend across China. In Yiwu, known as the "world's supermarket", exports of sporting goods reached 2.34 billion yuan ($343.06 million) in the first two months of this year, up 38.5 percent year-on-year.